Four in 10 Britons will get cancer

Number of people in Britain living with cancer rose from 1.5 million to 2 million in a decade, according to health charity More than four in 10 Britons will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives, according to a study by a leading health charity. Figures obtained by Macmillan Cancer Support show that 42% of Britons had cancer before they died – compared with around 35% a decade ago. The study, which analysed data from 2008, also revealed that 64% of cancer sufferers will eventually die from the disease. Ciaran Devane, the chief executive of Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “It is really alarming that the number of people who will get cancer is now well past one in three, and that there are so many more people with cancer today than even 10 years ago.” Macmillan said the number of people living with cancer had risen from 1.5 million in 1998 to 2 million in 2008 – an increase of 35%. Experts believe this is because more people are getting the disease and, as treatment improves, those who have it are surviving longer. Two million people in the UK have had a cancer diagnosis, according to the charity. This is expected to double within the next two decades. Devane said the NHS was facing a challenge because of the rising rates. “The NHS needs to recognise cancer’s long-term impact on people’s lives, to plan better services and to develop more personalised care. We have a massive challenge ahead if we are to keep up with the relentless toll cancer takes on people’s health, and the NHS must rise to it.” Cancer Health guardian.co.uk

Posted by on July 14, 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.