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Breast cancer cases have soared | Breast cancer cases have soared |
(40 minutes later) | |
The number of breast cancer cases has rocketed in the last three decades, but death rates are falling, figures show. | The number of breast cancer cases has rocketed in the last three decades, but death rates are falling, figures show. |
The data from the Office for National Statistics showed that from 1971 to 2004 the number of cases of the disease rose by 81% to 36,939 cases in England. | The data from the Office for National Statistics showed that from 1971 to 2004 the number of cases of the disease rose by 81% to 36,939 cases in England. |
But deaths from the disease have fallen by a fifth since 1989 to 12,417 due to better treatment and earlier detection. | But deaths from the disease have fallen by a fifth since 1989 to 12,417 due to better treatment and earlier detection. |
Experts said the rise in cases was being fuelled by lifestyle changes and the start of national screening. | Experts said the rise in cases was being fuelled by lifestyle changes and the start of national screening. |
MOST COMMON FEMALE CANCERS Breast - 36,939 cases (31.9% of total)Bowel - 13,020 cases (11.2%)Lung - 12,337 cases (10.7%) | MOST COMMON FEMALE CANCERS Breast - 36,939 cases (31.9% of total)Bowel - 13,020 cases (11.2%)Lung - 12,337 cases (10.7%) |
Factors such as obesity and drinking alcohol are known to increase the risk of a woman getting breast cancer. | Factors such as obesity and drinking alcohol are known to increase the risk of a woman getting breast cancer. |
The ageing population is also a factor, but this was taken into account by ONS statisticians when compiling the figures. | |
But Mark Matfield, scientific consultant for the Association for International Cancer Research, said the fact that women were having smaller families and breast-feeding less also played a part. | But Mark Matfield, scientific consultant for the Association for International Cancer Research, said the fact that women were having smaller families and breast-feeding less also played a part. |
"It is hard to pin down exactly what has caused this rise. These lifestyle factors are having a significant impact, but so has the introduction of the national screening programme in the late 1980s. | "It is hard to pin down exactly what has caused this rise. These lifestyle factors are having a significant impact, but so has the introduction of the national screening programme in the late 1980s. |
Nutrition | Nutrition |
"Better nutrition also mean the age of the first period is falling and this increases risk later in life. | "Better nutrition also mean the age of the first period is falling and this increases risk later in life. |
"It is a complex picture." | "It is a complex picture." |
Sir Richard Peto, a cancer expert at Oxford University, warned against reading too much into the rises in the number of cases. | |
MOST COMMON MALE CANCERS Prostate - 29,406 cases (25% of total)Lung - 18,071 cases (15.3%)Bowel - 15,817 cases (13.4%) | MOST COMMON MALE CANCERS Prostate - 29,406 cases (25% of total)Lung - 18,071 cases (15.3%)Bowel - 15,817 cases (13.4%) |
"Incidence is not reliable, it fluctuates depending on how well you measure it and record it. | |
"The thing that matters most is the decreases in the deaths." | |
The figures also showed that breast cancer accounted for one in three newly diagnosed cases of cancer in females. Bowel and lung cancer where the next most common. | The figures also showed that breast cancer accounted for one in three newly diagnosed cases of cancer in females. Bowel and lung cancer where the next most common. |
For men, prostate cancer was the most common, accounting for 25% of the total number of cancers. Lung and bowel cancer were the next most prevalent. | For men, prostate cancer was the most common, accounting for 25% of the total number of cancers. Lung and bowel cancer were the next most prevalent. |
Prostate cancer in particular has shown a sharp increase since 1990, doubling to 98 cases per 100,000 due to better testing methods. | Prostate cancer in particular has shown a sharp increase since 1990, doubling to 98 cases per 100,000 due to better testing methods. |