• 11/25/2005
  • United Kingdom
  • staff
  • Life Style Extra (www.lse.co.uk)

Cancer deaths in Britain are falling while the number of new cases of the disease is remaining stable, according to new figures released today.

Overall, the number of patients aged between 35 and 69 who have been dying has dropped by about 2.4 per cent each year over the past decade, the annual Britain Against Cancer conference at Westminster was told.

The number of people dying of bowel cancer has fallen considerably. Rates fell by 22 per cent in men and 26 per cent in women. And mortality from breast cancer fell by a quarter over the past ten years, in spite of an increase in incidence.

The statistics published by Cancer Research UK and the UK Association of Cancer Registries (UKACR) also reveal that lung, breast, bowel and prostate cancers will continue to be the most common types by far.

However, the number of new cases of lung cancer in women is falling among the age group, suggesting we are approaching the peak of the disease in women. Lung cancer rates are already falling in men.

But the incidence of some less common cancers is rising according to the study, the first time such data has been available over a ten year period for the whole of the UK.

Professor David Forman, Cancer Research UK researcher at the University of Leeds and chair of the UKACR, and colleagues analysed the latest trends among people aged between 35 and 69.

The team say that by highlighting cancer trends in people currently in middle age, the figures give an insight into the types of cancer that will pose the biggest future threats as this group continues to age.

Professor Forman said: “It is very important to look at cancer trends in younger adults, so we can see how the spectrum of cancer is changing. Having 10 year data has enabled us to do this for the first time for the UK as a whole.

“The statistics confirm that the current four major cancers lung, breast, bowel and prostate will continue to dominate in the future.

“They also show that thousands fewer people are dying of cancer every year. The global cancer research effort has led to many important gains.”

The study of incidence data between 1993 and 2003 found the total number of cancers diagnosed has seen a slight increase of 0.2 per cent each year over the past 10 years in people aged 35 to 69.

Prostate cancer incidence has more than doubled in 10 years, the dramatic rise due largely to the increase in PSA testing. While the PSA test leads to greater detection of all prostate cancers, it also identifies cases which may not become a clinical problem for some men.

Professor Forman said: “There will be little change in how cancers are ranked at the top of the incidence table. But it also emerges that cancers that have previously received less attention such as cancers of the mouth and malignant melanoma are likely to become more prominent in the future.”

The incidence of mouth cancer increased by 23 per cent in men and 24 per cent in women. Cancer Research UK launched a new campaign last week called ‘Open Up to Mouth Cancer’ to raise awareness of the disease and its early signs.

The number of melanomas, the most serious form of skin cancer, diagnosed in the UK continues to rise. Incidence rates increased by 35 per cent in men and by 22 per cent in women.

But there is good news concerning other cancers. Cervical cancer cases and mortality have fallen by more than a third, mainly because of the ability of screening and simple treatment of pre malignancy to prevent the disease altogether.

Death rates for stomach cancer have dropped by 39 per cent in men and by 45 per cent in women. The dramatic improvement reflects changes in the way food is preserved and the eradication of the carcinogenic bug Helicobacter pylori, through antibiotic use and improved social conditions.

Added Professor Forman: “Stomach cancer used to be the most common form of cancer death in the UK. The falls in incidence and death rates for the disease are very striking.”

Cancer Research UK medical director Professor John Toy said: “Determining the cancers affecting people in middle age provides a snapshot of our future challenges.

“It is very encouraging that death rates are falling for so many cancers. We are reaping the benefits of numerous improvements in early detection and treatment gained over many years.

“Half of cancers could be prevented by changes in lifestyle such as stopping smoking, maintaining a healthy body weight and a healthy diet, by being SunSmart and by attending screening.”