In the United States, men have been quitting smoking for decades, which has decreased male lung cancer deaths. While men were quitting smoking, however, the number of women who smoke increased, which has increased female lung cancer rates. Fortunately, cigarette smoking has been declining over the past decade in North America for every gender and age group. In 1970, one-half of U.S. adult men and one-third of women smoked, but by 2010 only 22 percent of men and 18 percent of women did. Women are following the male pattern of quitting, and many offices, homes, and public places are now smoke-free.