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Friday, 29 September 2006, 09:38 GMT 10:38 UK
<a name="startcontent"></a>
<h2>Breast cancer cases have soared</h2>


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		<img height="152" hspace="4" align="left" vspace="4" border="0" width="203" alt="Medics examining a mammogram" src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41981000/jpg/_41981702_breast_screening203.jpg" />
	
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<B>The number of breast cancer cases has rocketed in the last three decades, but death rates are falling, figures show.</B>
<P>
The data from the Office for National Statistics showed that from 1971 to 2004 the number of cases of the disease rose by 81% to 36,939 cases in England.
<P>
But deaths from the disease have fallen by a fifth since 1989 to 12,417 due to better treatment and earlier detection.
<P>
Experts said the rise in cases was being fuelled by lifestyle changes and the start of national screening.
<!-- E SF -->
<P>



    
        
            <!-- S IBOX -->
            <p />
            <b>MOST COMMON FEMALE CANCERS</b><br />
            
                    



	<ul>
	<li><b>Breast</b> - 36,939 cases (31.9% of total)</li>
	




	
	<li><b>Bowel</b> - 13,020 cases (11.2%)</li>
	




	
	<li><b>Lung</b> - 12,337 cases (10.7%)</li>
	</ul>

            
            <br />
            
            <!-- E IBOX -->
        
    


<P>
Factors such as obesity and drinking alcohol are known to increase the risk of a woman getting breast cancer.
<P>
The ageing population is also a factor, but this was taken into account by ONS statisticians when compiling the figures.
<P>
But Mark Matfield, scientific consultant for the Association for International Cancer Research, said the fact that women were having smaller families and breast-feeding less also played a part.
<P>
"It is hard to pin down exactly what has caused this rise. These lifestyle factors are having a significant impact, but so has the introduction of the national screening programme in the late 1980s.
<P>
<b>Nutrition</b>
<P>
"Better nutrition also mean the age of the first period is falling and this increases risk later in life.
<P>
"It is a complex picture."
<P>
Sir Richard Peto, a cancer expert at Oxford University, warned against reading too much into the rises in the number of cases.
<P>
"Incidence is not reliable, it fluctuates depending on how well you measure it and record it.
<P>
"The thing that matters most is the decreases in the deaths."
<P>



    
        
            <!-- S IBOX -->
            <p />
            <b>MOST COMMON MALE CANCERS</b><br />
            
                    



	<ul>
	<li><b>Prostate</b> - 29,406 cases (25% of total)</li>
	




	
	<li><b>Lung</b> - 18,071 cases (15.3%)</li>
	




	
	<li><b>Bowel</b> - 15,817 cases (13.4%)</li>
	</ul>

            
            <br />
            
            <!-- E IBOX -->
        
    


<P>
And Dr Lesley Walker, of Cancer Research UK, advised women of the precautions they could take to reduce the risk of breast cancer.
<P>
"A balanced diet and regular exercise can help women maintain a healthy weight which lowers the risk of several common cancers. 
<P>
"Over the age of 50 women should ensure that they go for breast screening when invited. 
<P>
"Women should also be aware of any significant family history of cancer and keep their doctor informed."
<P>
The figures also showed that breast cancer accounted for one in three newly diagnosed cases of cancer in females. Bowel and lung cancer where the next most common.
<P>
For men, prostate cancer was the most common, accounting for 25% of the total number of cancers. Lung and bowel cancer were the next most prevalent.
<P>
Prostate cancer in particular has shown a sharp increase since 1990, doubling to 98 cases per 100,000 due to better testing methods.
<P><!-- E BO --><!-- E BO --><br>

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    <p />
        <b>RELATED INTERNET LINKS</b><br />
        
            <a href="http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/">Cancer Research UK</a><br />
        
            <a href="http://www.statistics.gov.uk/">ONS</a><br />
        
            <a href="http://www.aicr.org.uk/">The Association for International Cancer Research</a><br />
        
            <a href="http://www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk">NHS Cancer Screening Programmes</a><br />
                    	
        The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites
        
    

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