Health

 LONDON: Five-year survival rates for breast, lung, prostate and colon cancer have risen, a round-up from the Office for National Statistics showed.

More patients were still alive after five years if they were diagnosed between 2003 and 2007 than if they were diagnosed between 2001 and 2006.

Survival rates increased by 1.3 per cent for women with breast cancer, 1.5 per cent for people with colon cancer and by 2.7 per cent for people with prostate cancer.

The smallest rise in survival rates was for lung cancer where only 0.4 per cent more people were alive five years after diagnosis.

Jane Hatfield, Director of Policy and Research at Breast Cancer Care, said: “It is very encouraging that breast cancer survival rates have continued to improve as a result of efforts across all sectors.

“However, separate research has shown that one-year survival rates are lower for women from disadvantaged communities compared to those from affluent groups.

“Additionally, the survival rates in UK women with breast cancer over the age of 75 are much lower compared to other European countries.

“There is an urgent need to tackle these inequalities in survival from breast cancer. Early detection plays a vital role in this, and Breast Cancer Care is working hard to encourage women of all backgrounds and ages to be breast aware and to visit their doctor if they have any signs or symptoms that they are concerned about.”

Survival rates were also higher for several other cancers monitored over the same period.

More men survived testicular cancer than any other cancer (96.2 per cent) while more women survived malignant melanoma (90.1 per cent).

The lowest five-year survival in both sexes was for pancreatic cancer: 3.1% in men and 3.3% in women.

Ciaran Devane, chief executive at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: "It's welcome news that there are more cancer survivors because of both the improvements in treatment and an ageing population, but this does not show the whole picture.

"After treatment ends, many patients feel abandoned by the NHS and struggle to cope with the long-term effects cancer, and cancer treatment, can have on their bodies, careers and families.

"The next government needs to ensure all cancer patients have the support they need to manage the long-term effects of cancer treatment.

"The current NHS follow-up service is costly and ineffective and must be replaced."