Study shows significant decrease in cancer mortality
Cancer death rates in middle-aged Brits have fallen by a third since 1993, with men experiencing a 37% decrease and women a 33% decrease in the chance of dying from the disease between the ages of 35 and 69. Experts at Cancer Research UK attribute this drop to advancements in testing and treatments, as well as a decline in smoking rates.
Improvements in survival rates and decrease in specific tumour types
The study, published in the British Medical Journal, revealed that cancer patients are now more likely to survive than in the 1990s. The analysis found that death rates fell for 17 out of 22 specific tumour types, with men's death rate decreasing from 300 to 190 deaths per 100,000 population per year and women's rate declining from 242 to 163 per 100,000 per year.
Concerns over unhealthy lifestyles
Despite the positive trend, experts are concerned about the impact of unhealthy lifestyles on certain types of cancer. Risks associated with sunburn, weight gain, and alcohol consumption have led to increases in skin, liver, mouth, and kidney tumours. The study highlights the importance of prevention, early diagnosis, and improved treatments.
Challenges and the way forward
Jon Shelton, head of intelligence at CRUK, emphasized the need to continue preventing cancer cases, diagnosing cancers sooner, and developing kinder treatments. Chief executive Michelle Mitchell raised concerns about long waits for NHS care and stressed the ongoing impact of cancer on a large portion of the UK population. The study analyzed data from patients diagnosed or deceased between 1993 and 2018, attributing improvements in cervical and lung cancer death rates to health policies and NHS screening.
