UK's annual cancer diagnosis numbers rise by 50,000 in a decade

Cancer numbers have gone up mainly because people are living longer but alcohol and obesity have also contributed to riseThe number of people being diagnosed with cancer each year in Britain has increased by 50,000 over the past decade, according to figures published on Tuesday.Cancer numbers have gone up primarily because people are living longer although alcohol and obesity are also playing a part in the rise in the numbers.Cancer Research UK, which released the figures, said there has been an increase in the number of diagnoses from around 283,000 cases in 2001 to 331,487 in 2011. Most cancers are a result of the ageing process as people are less likely to die from infectious diseases and advances in medical science are keeping more alive after heart attacks and strokes and with other medical problems.Chances of surviving cancer have also risen as prevention, diagnosis and treatment have improved. Survival rates have doubled in the past 40 years. In the 1970s, less than a quarter (23%) of cancer patients survived for 10 years. By 2007, that was closer to a half (46%).Overall rates of people being diagnosed with cancer have climbed by a more than a third (35%) 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.Four cancers account for more than half of all new cases - breast, lung, bowel and prostate.Besides the ageing of the population, alcohol and obesity are playing a part in the rise i...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: The Guardian Obesity News Health Medical research Society Cancer UK news Alcohol Science Source Type: news