Home Health The number of people living with cancer in the UK will hit a record THIS year, figures suggest

The number of people living with cancer in the UK will hit a record THIS year, figures suggest

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The number of people living with cancer in the UK will reach a record 3.4 million this year, figures suggest (file image)

Figures suggest the number of people living with cancer in the UK will reach a record 3.4 million this year.

Data analyzed by cancer support charity Macmillan shows that around half a million more people will be living with cancer in December than five years ago.

The increase is being driven by a growing and aging population and a gradual improvement in survival rates for some types of the disease.

There has also been an increase in people diagnosed with cancers such as thyroid, liver and melanoma.

Macmillan warned that the experience of having cancer is getting worse for many people, with delays in treatment and sometimes a lottery of care.

The estimated 3.4 million people who will be living with cancer in December 2025 include around 890,000 women with breast cancer, 610,000 men with prostate cancer, 390,000 people with bowel cancer and 120,000 with lung cancer.

A YouGov survey of more than 2,000 people last year found that a third felt it was harder to live with cancer now than at any time they could remember, rising to 48 per cent of those who also had a severe disability.

Analysis of NHS data also suggests that many people with cancer are reporting worse experiences across several areas of care, including people from ethnic minorities and those from the LGBTQ+ community, Macmillan said.

The number of people living with cancer in the UK will reach a record 3.4 million this year, figures suggest (file image)

Data analyzed by cancer support charity Macmillan shows that around half a million more people will be living with cancer in December than five years ago (file image)

Data analyzed by cancer support charity Macmillan shows that around half a million more people will be living with cancer in December than five years ago (file image)

Its chief executive, Gemma Peters, said: “The number of people living with cancer in the UK is increasing and, in many cases, things are getting worse.”

‘There are unacceptable gaps between the best and worst experiences, and people are being left behind.

‘Behind these figures are people with unique challenges and needs.

‘At Macmillan, we support people living with cancer every day, helping them manage the many ways cancer affects their lives.

‘We see how cancer affects people’s relationships, jobs, finances and more, and how this can be even worse for some, simply because of who they are or where they live. This must change.

“There is room for improvement, but only if we approach cancer care differently.” Governments across the UK have a unique opportunity to revolutionize cancer care for the future.

‘By addressing the gap in cancer care and ensuring that all patients, no matter who they are or where they live, can access world-class care, we can set a new standard for the UK. This is governments’ chance to shape their legacy for generations to come.’

The increase is being driven by a growing and aging population and a gradual improvement in survival rates for some types of the disease (file image)

The increase is being driven by a growing and aging population and a gradual improvement in survival rates for some types of the disease (file image)

The estimated 3.4 million people who will be living with cancer in December 2025 include around 890,000 women with breast cancer, 610,000 men with prostate cancer, 390,000 people with bowel cancer and 120,000 with lung cancer (file image )

The estimated 3.4 million people who will be living with cancer in December 2025 include around 890,000 women with breast cancer, 610,000 men with prostate cancer, 390,000 people with bowel cancer and 120,000 with lung cancer (file image )

The 2021 census found that the number of people aged 65 and over increased from 9.2 million in 2011 to more than 11 million in 2021.

Around half of Britons will develop cancer in their lifetime and there are more than 385,000 new cases of cancer in the UK each year, more than 1,000 every day.

Meanwhile, cancer survival is improving and has doubled in the last 50 years in the UK.

All contribute to the growing number of people living beyond a cancer diagnosis.

GPs in England made 259,563 urgent cancer referrals in November, down from 279,063 in October and a year-on-year decrease from 270,549 in November 2023.

A total of 77.4 percent of patients urgently referred for suspected cancer were diagnosed or ruled out within 28 days.

This figure is an increase from 77.1 percent the previous month and is above the target of 75 percent.

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