This paper presents the picture of lung cancer mortality among women in the European Union in relation to patterns and trends in women smoking as a rising public health problem. Based on WHO mortality statistics and international data on smoking prevalence, this analysis shows that lung cancer mortality among European women has been increasing for many years, and in the most of countries is already or will be in the next decade the leading cause of cancer deaths. The increase in lung cancer mortality is caused by a persistent epidemic of tobacco smoking in women and strongly associated with age patterns of smoking behaviours. Polish data also show on the consistency of lung cancer epidemic in men and women population, although there is a time lag in this epidemic in female population. Smoking prevention and cessation should remain a priority of cancer primary prevention and health promotion in women.