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New research reveals the number of cancer cases has risen over the last 25 years, but fewer people aged 35-69 are dying from the disease.
The study, published in The BMJ, reveals that, overall, cancer cases rose by 57% in men and 48% in women between 1993 and 2018. When analysed by age, the average annual increase in cases was a modest 0.8% in both sexes.
The researchers say this increase is predominantly driven by increases in prostate cancer among males and breast cancer among females.
However, deaths for all cancers combined fell by 2% per year in men and by 1.6% per year in women across nearly all the cancers examined. The authors say this is likely a reflection of the successes in cancer prevention, earlier detection and improved diagnostic tests and treatment.
Concerning rise in some rarer types of cancer
To conduct the study, researchers used UK-wide cancer registration and population data to examine trends in cancer cases and deaths for all cancers.
Data for 23 cancer groups or types in men and women aged 35-69 years – who were newly diagnosed with or died from cancer between 1993 to 2018 – were analysed and trends investigated.
While cancer cases increased only modestly over this 25-year period, the authors note a ‘concerning rise’ (more than 2% per year) in the number of liver, melanoma skin, oral, and kidney cancer cases.
The rise in cases has been linked to increasing mortality rates among these cancer groups.
Lung and cervical cancer mortality rates plummet
However, the overall number of cancer deaths fell by 20% in men and 17% in women between 1993 and 2018. After accounting for differences in age, deaths for all cancers combined fell by 2% per year in men and by 1.6% per year in women across nearly all the cancers examined.
Notably, the authors recorded a large drop in cervical cancer mortality rates, with 54.3% fewer women dying from the disease, which is likely linked to an increased uptake of cervical cancer screening and the effective HPV vaccine.
Lung cancer mortality rates also decreased by 53.2% in men and by 20.7% in women, which the authors say is linked to reduced smoking rates in recent decades.
Other large declines were noted for stomach, mesothelioma, bladder cancers in men, and stomach and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (3.2%) in women.
Only liver, oral, and uterine cancers showed an annual increase in deaths of 1% or more. Cancer research UK, who led the study, say this increase can be attributed to risk factors such as alcohol, overweight and obesity, and smoking.
Challenges lay ahead
The authors note the study is observational study so cannot establish cause, and that not all cancers were included in the research. However, they say the high-quality data used in the study presents a ‘clear and reliable’ comparative picture of UK cancer incidence in the UK.
Jon Shelton, Cancer Research UK’s head of cancer intelligence and lead author of the study, says the research has helped to paint a clearer picture of the advances in cancer treatment, but more needs to be done to ensure cancer is diagnosed and treated in a timely manner.
The charity says there is an immense challenge ahead to maintain progress, with all UK nations failing to meet their cancer waiting times targets and NHS staff under extreme pressure.
“This research is a useful benchmarking tool for the next 25 years and beyond so that we can take action to save more lives from cancer. We must continue to prevent as many cancer cases as possible, diagnose cancers sooner and develop kinder treatments.”
“With cancer cases and mortality for some sites on the rise and improvements in survival slowing, it’s vital that the UK Government takes bold action to keep momentum up. Now is the time to go further and faster, building on the successes of decades of research and improvements in healthcare,” said Shelton.