- More people than ever before are being diagnosed with
cancer in the UK.
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- The latest figures reveal that over 270,000 people were
told they had cancer in 2000 - up 3,000 on the previous year.
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- Cases of skin, uterine and prostate cancer have increased
sharply while the numbers being diagnosed with stomach and cervical cancer
are down.
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- Experts say the rise in cancer cases is down to the fact
that Britons are living longer.
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- The figures have been compiled by the UK Association
of Cancer Registries, which register all cancer cases in this country.
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- Sharp increases
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- They show that drops in some cancers have been offset
by sharp increase in others.
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- For instance, the number of cases of malignant melanoma
jumped to 7,000, up 16% in one year.
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- There were 1,000 more cases of uterine cancer compared
to 1999 - an 8% increase bringing the total up to 5,600.
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- The number of people being told they have prostate cancer
has increased by 25% over the last five years to 27,200.
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- However, doctors say this rise is down to the fact that
they are now picking up cases that would have gone unnoticed a few years
ago.
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- Similarly, a 17% increase in non Hodgkin's lymphoma is
attributed to more sensitive tests.
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- But the figures also contain some good news showing that
progress is being made against other types of cancer.
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- Improved hygiene is helping to cut the incidence of stomach
cancer.
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- Screening for cervical cancer has enabled doctors to
pick up and treat more women before they develop symptoms.
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- There were 2,991 cases of the disease in 2000 - down
13% in five years.
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- Efforts to encourage people to stop smoking are also
paying dividends.
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- Cases of smoking-related cancers are continuing to fall
in men. In Scotland, lung cancer in men is down 15% compared to five years
ago.
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- Helpful statistics
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- Professor David Forman, chairman of the UK Association
of Cancer Registries, said the statistics will help the fight against cancer.
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- "Keeping track of cancer trends is vital for research
on the causes of cancer and to help focus prevention strategies and treatment
resources.
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- "Cancer mainly affects older people and as our population
ages, we are inevitably seeing more cases.
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- "But it's important to pick out cancers where rates
are increasing faster than we'd expect from changes in demographics, so
we can gain clues about causes."
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- Professor Robert Souhami, director of clinical and external
affairs at Cancer Research UK, said the figures show progress is being
made against some cancers.
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- "The figures highlight the impact that cancer prevention
strategies can make."
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- But he added: "It's worrying to see that melanoma
rates are continuing to rise unabated and we really need to hammer home
the sun protection message.
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- "It will also be important to understand the reasons
for the increase in cancer of the uterus. It may be related to rising rates
of obesity, which are pushing up the rates of a number of cancers in both
women and men."
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- Dame Gill Oliver, of Macmillan Cancer Relief, said: "We
would urge people to protect themselves when in the sun, as well as taking
regular exercise, eating a balanced diet and adopting a healthy lifestyle.
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- "However, on a positive note, cancer treatment and
care is getting better and people are living longer with the disease."
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- Delyth Morgan, chief executive of Breakthrough Breast
Cancer, said: "We are encouraged by the decrease in both lung and
cervical cancer where prevention strategies are really beginning to pay
off.
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- "However, we are deeply concerned about the continuing
rise in breast cancer over the last five years.
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- "The most common cancer in the UK, we still know
very little about the disease and its causes.
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- "Greater funding for research is vital if we are
to pinpoint the causes of this devastating disease and allow us to work
out ways to prevent it."
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- Cancer statistics Malignant melanoma is up 24% Uterine
cancer is up 22% Breast cancer is up 12% Prostate cancer is up 25% Non-Hodgkins
lymphoma is up 17% Cervical cancer down 13% Source: UK Association of Cancer
Registries Figures compare 2000 with 1995
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- © BBC MMIV
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- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3373447.stm
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