NUMBER OF CANCER CASES IN UK IS EXPECTED TO REACH 500,000 BY 2040: ANALYSIS

Sat 04 February 2023:

According to a Cancer Research UK analysis released on Friday, the number of cancer cases in the UK is expected to exceed 500,000 by 2040.

“If current trends continue, the figure will rise from the 384,000 per year now to 506,000 in 2040,” said the study. It means around one-third more people will be diagnosed with cancer every year in comparison to current levels.

The charity said the main reason behind the projection is the growing and aging population.

During the next two decades, new cancer patients in the UK are estimated to become older.

“Currently, around 5 in 10 new cancer cases were in people aged 70 and this figure could be 6 in 10 by 2040,” it said.

“Today’s analysis provides a stark reminder of the challenges the NHS (National Health Service) in England is set to face in years to come,” said Cancer Research UK’s chief executive Michelle Mitchell about the projection.

“Cancer patients are already facing unacceptably long waits for diagnosis and treatment, and staff in cancer services are working very hard,” she added.

The charity said the “NHS risks being overwhelmed by the sheer volume of new cancer diagnoses” if the government will not take concrete action to handle the problem

Latest government figures show that in November, although there was a record number of almost 265,000 people seen by a cancer consultant, only 78.8% of them were seen within two weeks of being urgently referred by their GPs for suspected cancer, well below the 93% target.

And while record numbers started treatment, almost two in five (39%) of the patients urgently referred by their GPs for suspected cancer waited more than two months to begin treatment.

Cancer Research UK’s chief executive, Michelle Mitchell, called on the government to take immediate action. She said: “A 10-year cancer plan that will prepare cancer services for the future, give people affected by cancer the care they deserve and the resources – people and equipment – the NHS needs, is essential.”

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

FOLLOW INDEPENDENT PRESS:

TWITTER (CLICK HERE)
https://twitter.com/IpIndependent