| Almost 260,000 new cases of cancer are diagnosed | | | | 100,000 in 2005, compared to 18 per 100,000 women |
| in the UK each year, but despite the rates of | | | | in 1971. Amongst men there has been a dramatic |
| incidence being on the rise, the good news is that | | | | reduction in the number of deaths caused by lung |
| less people are actually dying from cancer, thanks to | | | | cancer over the same period. In 1971 it accounted |
| advances in treatment and also early detection. | | | | for 107 deaths per 100,000 but in 2005 was just less |
| The trend is the same in both the USA and UK, with | | | | than half that figure at 53 deaths per 100,000 men in |
| figures that trace incidence of and deaths caused by | | | | the population. |
| cancer over a period of 30 years from 1975 to 2005 | | | | The overall drop in mortality amongst men is thought |
| showing that mortality rates for all cancers have | | | | to be because of the reduction in tobacco |
| decreased steadily over the last ten years, with | | | | consumption, as warnings about the links between |
| stomach and prostate cancer displaying the most | | | | smoking and lung cancer were identified towards the |
| improvement in terms of people overcoming this | | | | end of the twentieth century. The rise in the number |
| deadly disease. | | | | of cases amongst women can be attributed to the |
| However, it's not all good news on the mortality | | | | uptake in smoking by females at the beginning of the |
| front. Deaths from cancers of the kidney, liver and | | | | 1980s. Since 1986 young women have consistently |
| uterus are on the rise, as is mortality from malignant | | | | smoked more than young men, impacting on future |
| melanoma, especially amongst males. | | | | mortality rates. |
| Education, increased funding and the acceptance | | | | Although death rates from cancer are on the decline |
| from males to visit the doctor at the first sign of any | | | | in general, there is a need for more education as |
| health problems (rather than grinning and bearing it | | | | people continue to put themselves at risk by indulging |
| until it's too late) are helping to decrease the | | | | in excessive consumption of cigarettes and alcohol, |
| mortality rate, especially with diseases such as | | | | even though both substances have been proved to |
| prostate cancer. | | | | increase the risk of contracting certain cancers. As |
| However, lung cancer claims more female victims | | | | well as extensive documentation available from the |
| than any other cancer, including breast cancer, and | | | | NHS and government sources, cancer charity |
| the number of victims is rising. Deaths amongst | | | | organisations are also working hard to deliver |
| women from lung cancer were recorded at 30 per | | | | messages about avoidance of cancer risks. |