The number of people in their 50s dying prematurely from cancer in the UK has fallen below 14,000 for the first time in 40 years according to figures from Cancer Research UK.
The latest statistics show that cancer deaths in 50-59 year olds have dropped from over 21,300 in 1971 to under 14,000 in 2010 – which equates to a decrease of 40%. The dramatic drop in 50-59 year olds dying from cancer is likely to be due to a combination of factors. For example, better chemotherapy has led to improved survival in testicular cancer and Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Other factors include falling smoking rates, the introduction of screening, better treatments such as tamoxifen, more effective radiotherapy and many new drugs and better delivery of cancer diagnosis and treatment by the NHS.
