Cancer cases are rising even though fewer middle-aged people are dying from cancer

New research shows that despite rising cases, fewer middle-aged people are dying from cancer than at any time in 25 years.

A study by Cancer Research UK found that death rates among people aged 35 to 69 have fallen sharply due to screening, better treatment and fewer people smoking.

However, the UK-wide study warns that improvements in survival are slowing while cancer cases are rising, with cases increasing by 57% in men and 57% in women over the quarter century of the study. Cancer cases increased by 48%.

1993, 55,014 cancer Registered cases were among men but this rose to 86,297 in 2018, while among women it rose from 60,187 to 88,970.

Researchers say this increase is largely due to increases in prostate and breast cancer rates, which are largely due to better screening.

However, there have also been “worrying” increases in melanoma, liver, oral and kidney cancers.

Researchers say that while the number of cases is rising due to population growth, obesity, alcohol consumption and lack of exercise also play a role.

Cancer Research UK claims that policies to combat smoking, obesity and alcohol abuse could prevent around 37,000 cases of cancer by 2040.

According to the study, “the incidence rates of four cancers (liver, melanoma, oral cavity and kidney) increased significantly” in both men and women during this period, by more than 2% per year.

Research shows these are related to lifestyle factors such as alcohol consumption, smoking, sun exposure and obesity.

They said: “The increase in liver cancer incidence and mortality in both men and women is very concerning, with nearly one-half of this attributable to modifiable risk factors.”

“Other studies expect this proportion to remain high due to the high prevalence of overweight, obesity and diabetes in the general population.”

Being overweight or obese can cause 13 types of cancer, including stomach, bowel, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, breast, uterine, ovarian, kidney and thyroid cancer.

Alcohol is linked to seven types of cancer, including cancer of the mouth, upper throat, larynx, esophagus, breast and bowel.

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The study found that overall, taking into account population growth and aging, male mortality rates fell by 37% and female mortality rates by 33% over 25 years.

Of note are the successes in targeting individual cancers.

Cervical cancer death rates down 54%, reflecting cervical cancer success NHS Cervical Screening and HPV Vaccine Program.

As fewer people smoke, lung cancer death rates have also fallen, by 53% for men and 21% for women.

Decreases were also observed in gastric cancer, mesothelioma, and bladder cancer in men and in gastric cancer and non-Hodgkin lymphoma in women.

Jon Shelton, Cancer Research UK’s head of cancer intelligence and lead author of the study, said: “We must continue to prevent as many cases of cancer as possible, diagnose cancer earlier and develop kinder treatments.”

“Without the UK Government’s long-term planning and funding, cancer patients will not be able to feel the full benefits of research breakthroughs and innovative advances, including new cancer treatments.”

Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said: “I welcome the positive findings of this report. Survival rates are improving for almost all types of cancer through technology and treatments, cancer screening programs and innovations to help people stop smoking.”

In the study, researchers used UK-wide data to examine trends in men and women aged 35 to 69 being newly diagnosed with or dying from cancer between 1993 and 2018.