Cancer death rates down by 10 per cent in 10 years

Cancer death rates in the UK have dropped by almost 10 per cent over the past 10 years, according to new analysis by Cancer Research UK.

The data shows that 284 out of every 100,000 people diagnosed died from cancer in 2013, compared to 312 in every 100,000 in 2003.

According to the analysis, the decrease in death rates is largely due to improvements in detection, diagnosis and treatments. The death rate for men fell by 12 per cent, from 397 for every 100,000 in 2003 to 349 per 100,000 in 2013, compared to an eight per cent drop for women, who saw death rates fall from 259 per 100,000 women in 2003 to 240 in 2013. This is representative of roughly 85,00 men and 77,000 women dying of cancer each year in the UK.

Despite the drop in death rates, the actual number of deaths rose, from 155,000 in 2003 to 162,000 in 2013, which Cancer Research UK attributes to the fact that the population is growing and people are living longer.

Additionally, some forms of the disease, including liver and pancreatic cancer, saw death rates rise over the past decade.

Sir Harpal Kumar, Cancer Research UK’s chief executive, said: “One in two of all people diagnosed with cancer survive their disease for at least 10 years. Cancer Research UK’s ambition is to accelerate progress so that three in four survive cancer by 2034.

“We’re increasing our efforts into key areas of research such as how to achieve earlier diagnosis, and how best to manage cancers which are currently hard to treat. Our scientists are developing new tests, surgical and radiotherapy techniques, and drugs. It’s important to celebrate how much things have improved, but also to renew our commitment to saving the lives of more cancer patients. Together we can all do something to reduce the impact of this devastating disease.”