Whilst more people are diagnosed with cancer, survival rates are also higher
A third of a million people are now being diagnosed with cancer every year, this is the first time the number has every hit 330,000, according to the latest figures by Cancer Research UK released today.
While more people than ever are being diagnosed with cancer, research has led to more people surviving the disease. Survival has doubled in the last 40 years thanks to improvements in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
In 2001 there were around 283,000 cases diagnosed which means there has been an increase of nearly 50,000 over 10 years.
The main reason for the increase in cases is the ageing population. As there are more people living longer, more will develop the disease.
The figures are published as Cancer Research UK continues its campaign to raise awareness of the importance of research in beating cancer and reducing its devastating impact.
Dr Harpal Kumar, Cancer Research UK’s chief executive, said: “These figures reinforce the vital need for more research to better prevent, treat and cure cancer. As the population ages, more people than ever before will be told: ‘you have cancer’. Research is the only way we’ll be able to reduce the devastating impact of the disease. One day we will beat cancer. The more research we do, the sooner that day will come.”
Overall rates of people being diagnosed with cancer have climbed by a more than a third between 1975 and 2011. In 1975, around 295 per 100,000 were diagnosed with the disease. This increased to almost 400 per 100,000 in 2011. This increase is partly because of risk factors such as drinking alcohol and being overweight.
Research has helped to improve the outcome for many. In the 1970s 23 per cent of cancer patients survived ten years. This climbed to around 46 per cent in 2007.
Lorna Ross, 57, from London was 51 when a scan picked up the fact she had breast cancer. Her sons James and William were just 15 and 10 when she got the devastating news in October 2007. After surgery Lorna had four weeks of radiotherapy followed by a course of tamoxifen - a drug that Cancer Research UK helped to show the benefits of. Lorna has now finished her treatment and continues to have mammograms every three years.
Lorna said: “The cancer was so small, a tiny invasive growth. It wouldn’t have been picked up for many months or possibly years. The most difficult thing was telling the boys. My first thought was - ‘Oh God I want to see them grow up.’ It’s tricky because I didn’t want to worry them with terrible news. My life was on hold while I began treatment and learnt what was going to happen. Thanks to the treatment and the team who looked after me, my family and I have been able to return to a regular life. Research saves lives, and it was research that developed the drugs that helped me beat cancer.”
Eluned Hughes, from leading charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer, says: “Breast cancer is not a done deal and, as increasing numbers of people face the possibility of one day being told they have breast cancer, this is exactly why it is imperative that we continue our research. These statistics bolster us in our aim to not only stop people dying from this disease but, importantly, to also focus on stopping it developing in the first place. Prevention must be seen as important a weapon as treatment in the fight against breast cancer.
“At Breakthrough Breast Cancer our Generations Study, following more than 110,000 women over forty years, is giving us the answers we need on what causes breast cancer. With this knowledge we will focus our efforts on new ways to prevent women and men getting this disease in the future.”
Tagged in Health Cancer Research UK Cancer