There are 400,000 people alive up to 20 years after diagnosis. But not all return to full health once treatment is over, and they need support. By: Lesley Smith Source: guardian.co.uk Date: Tuesday 16 July 2013 05.00 EDT ‘GPs must be better equipped to monitor and recognise the potential long-term consequences of cancer treatment.’ Photograph: LWA-Dann Tardif/CORBIS The cancer story is changing. What was once feared as a death sentence is now an illness that many people survive. As survival rates increase, so too will the number of people living with the legacy of cancer and its treatment. Last month Macmillan Cancer Support revealed that by 2020 almost half of the population in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives. This has risen by more than a third in the past 20 years due to the improvement in overall life expectancy. While the number of people getting cancer is rising, there is also good news. Improvements in when the disease is diagnosed and the kinds of treatment and care available mean more people are surviving cancer than ever before. In England alone, there are currently 400,000 people alive 10 to 20 years after they were diagnosed with cancer, according to research by Macmillan and the National Cancer Intelligence Network. Unfortunately, not all cancer patients return to full health once their treatment is over. Some are left with debilitating health problems as a direct result of their cancer and its treatment, and these people often [...]