More middle-aged people are getting cancer, but fewer of them are dying from it thanks to improved detection and better treatment, research has found.
The findings are “positive and reassuring” for those aged 35 to 69, according to cancer experts cited in the British Medical Journal, which published the paper.
Cases of cancer in that age group rose between 1993 and 2018, according to Cancer Research UK (CRUK), which played a leading role in the study. However, the number of men and women dying from the disease fell by 37% and 33% respectively over the same 25 years.
The overall death rate from cancer among middle-aged people fell over that period – and for 17 of the 23 common types studied, in some cases dramatically, according to the research, which was the first UK study to look at trends in incidence and mortality. investigation of the disease over such a long period of time.
For example, the death rate among women of cervical cancer fell by 54.3%. CRUK said this was because the widespread use of the HPV sting and improved screening have combined to help “prevent cancer and stop the disease in its tracks”.
Similarly, the death rate for lung cancer, the UK’s biggest cancer killer, fell by 53.2% in men and 20.7% in women, thanks to fewer people smoking. The death rate also fell for breast and bowel cancer, probably because screening for it meant that more cases were picked up at an earlier stage, allowing faster treatment.
CRUK collaborated on the research with experts from the University of Leeds and University College London, as well as Public Health Scotland. They analyzed UK cancer registration figures and population data going back to 1993 to identify changes over time.
In the paper, published in the BMJ, they said: “Cancer deaths have declined significantly over the past 25 years in both men and women aged 35-69 years.
“This decline is likely a reflection of the successes in cancer prevention. For example smoking, prevention policies and cessation programs; earlier detection, for example screening programs; and improved diagnostic tests.”
The biggest declines in cancer death rates were for stomach, mesotheliomawhich is associated with exposure to asbestos, and bladder among men, and gastric, cervical and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma among women.
However, it was not all good news. The experts also found that the number of cancer diagnoses in middle-aged people rose by 57% among men and by 48% among women. This was mainly due to increases in prostate and breast cancer, the most common male and female cancers.
According to experts, there are alarming annual increases of at least 2% for four types of the disease, namely liver, melanoma, mouth and kidney cancer.
CRUK blames the increase in cases among 35- to 69-year-olds on the growing population and “lifestyle factors”, particularly obesity, alcohol consumption and sun exposure.
Michelle Mitchell, the charity’s chief executive, said the huge drop in cancer death rates showed that concerted action against the disease did save lives. She urged Rishi Sunak to build on that legacy by continuing with his plan to raise the age at which people can buy tobacco by one year every year and by investing more in stop-smoking services.
Steve Russell, the director of vaccination and screening at NHS England, said: “It is great to see this report attest to the significant improvements we have seen in cancer survival.
“The NHS is determined to build on these improvements, so we are working hard to achieve our ambitions to see 55,000 more people survive their cancer for five years or more by 2028 and three quarters of people be diagnosed with cancer early. stage by 2028.”
Being overweight and obese is a recognized cause of 13 forms of the disease, including liver and kidney cancer. Dr Helen Croker, the assistant director of policy and research at the World Cancer Research Fund, urged ministers to implement policies to reduce Britain’s high levels of obesity.
