More Brits developing cancer than ever before but survival rates have doubled since 70s
Cancer Research UK studied 50 years of data and found tumour rates increased by nearly half – 48 per cent – between 1973 and 2023.
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More Brits are developing cancer than ever before but we are twice as likely to survive the disease than patients in the 1970s
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There are now 607 cases per 100,000 people per year, compared to 413 per 100,000 then.
Cancer has become more common as people live longer and the risk rises with age, but cases are now increasing fastest in younger people.
Scientists are investigating whether unhealthy lifestyles now are driving up the disease further.
Meanwhile, treatment advances mean cancer is less deadly than ever, with the death rate tumbling from 328 per 100,000 to 252.
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The proportion of people who survive 10 years or more after diagnosis has doubled from 24 to 50 per cent.
Michelle Mitchell, chief of Cancer Research UK, said: 'It's fantastic to see that thanks to research, cancer death rates have drastically reduced over the last 50 years, and survival has doubled.
'However, there is more that can be done.
'This report highlights that over 460 people die from cancer every day in the UK, and too many cases are diagnosed at a late stage.
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'If we want to change that, we need bold action from the UK government and the upcoming National Cancer Plan for England must improve cancer survival and transform cancer services.'
The Cancer in the UK report warned that there has been almost no improvement to early diagnosis in the past 10 years.
If I had access to more information on breast health when I was younger, I may have caught my symptoms earlier
Nearly half of cases are still diagnosed in the later stages three and four, when a cure is much less likely.
CRUK said: 'The Government must make a concerted effort to reduce the number of people diagnosed with cancer at a later stage, with a focus on cancers that would lead to the greatest benefit in survival such as lung and bowel.'
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What does it mean to be 'in remission' after cancer?
Hearing 'remission' after receiving cancer treatment is good news.
Being 'in remission' after cancer means that there are no signs or symptoms of cancer detectable in the body with the use of scans or blood tests.
The person show no signs directly related to the cancer either.
It can be partial or complete - even with the latter, it does not mean the cancer is cured.
'Cured' is not a term doctors would like to use, because they cannot guarantee there are zero cancer cells in the body.
Regular follow-up appointments and monitoring are essential to watch out for a possible return of the cancer.
People might need to take medication to keep their cancer at bay, for example hormone treatments.
Remission indicates that the cancer has responded to treatment and is currently under control.
Partial remission: Some, but not all, signs and symptoms of cancer have disappeared.
Complete remission: All signs and symptoms of cancer are gone, although this does not necessarily mean that the cancer has been cured.
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