In spite of no apparent change in numbers where cancer diagnoses cases in the UK are concerned since 1995, the death rates due to cancer have fallen by 2.4% each year. The most common cancers are the bowel , breast, lung, and prostrate cancers, according to a Britain Against Cancer (Bacup) study. People aged between 35 years and 69 years were taken into account by the study.
The reasons for the fall in the number of casualties due to cancer are reported to be better treatment and early detection. Deaths due to stomach cancer which was the largest killer among cancers, declined by 45% in the case of women and 39% where men are concerned.In the case of bowel cancer, the number of casualties declined by 26% in the case of women and 22% where men are concerned. The number of breast cancer cases reported increased, while the number deaths due to the ailment fell by 25%. Where India is concerned, as many as 80,000 women develop the ailment every year. Even as there has been a fall in the number of cases of lung cancer, the number of malignant melanoma and mouth cancer are expected to increase further in the future. There has been a 23% increase in mouth cancer cases among men, while it was 24% in the case of women. The study also revealed that a good diet, a healthy body weight and quitting smoking could also contribute towards lesser incidences of cancer.
A vaccine is sought to be developed for cancer in the US by researchers, which will take advantage of the innate ability of the human body to combat cancer. As of now, the only treatments available for cancer are surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
