Cancer rates up as UK population ages

Mortality levels dropping with better treatment, but concern remains over care for older sufferers The incidence of cancer in the UK continues to rise as the population ages, but death rates are falling with improved diagnosis and treatment, official figures suggest. Statistics on newly-diagnosed cases and mortality published by the Office for National Statistics (pdf) on Thursday reveal about 153,800 men and 152,300 women were told they had cancer each year during 2006-08. That is a rate of 421 per 100,000 and 365 per 100,000 respectively; the rate over 2005-7 was 415 and 359. The latest mortality figures – 81,000 men (212 per 100,000) and 74,000 women (153 per 100,000) each year — represented slight drops on the previous rates of 214 and 154. Of all cancers, breast cancer has the highest incidence for women (123 cases per 100,000) and prostate cancer for men (100 per 100,000). Wales had the highest average annual cancer incidence rate for men (467 per 100,000) and Scotland for women (398 per 100,000) – although more than 80% of all diagnoses and deaths are in England. Concerns remain across the UK about cancer mortality rates compared with those in other countries, and a study on Wednesday warned that older people still faced “age-bias” in treatment for cancer. The Department of Health in England is launching pilot schemes to try to improve access to cancer services, and Mike Richards , its cancer director, has said that he expects the incidence of smoking-related cancers to tumble now the UK’s “tobacco epidemic” is past. Further changes in lifestyle, including lower alcohol consumption and more exercise, are also needed to reduce risks of other cancers. Cancer Health Scotland Wales James Meikle guardian.co.uk

Posted by on June 9, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.