'Unmanageable' cancer crisis feared

08 January 2015 09:13

The number of people living with cancer has hit record levels

The number of people living with cancer has hit record levels

The number of people living with cancer is set to hit record levels this year, Macmillan Cancer Support has said.

Including those who have been given the all-clear, around 2.5 million people will be living with the disease or its aftermath. This will mark a rise of half a million from five years previously.

'Unmanageable proportions'

Macmillan CEO Lynda Thomas said this marked a crisis of 'unmanageable proportions', and called for the main political parties to pledge to make cancer treatment a priority ahead of the general election in the spring.

Though acknowledging the positives of having more people surviving cancer, Thomas also drew attention to the impact that has on healthcare resources.

Lifestyle cancers

Whether living with cancer or after having survived it, a person may want to take a holiday. They can secure peace of mind by arranging specialist cancer travel insurance.

Thanks to better detection levels and better chances of survival in an ageing population, Macmillan expects the number of people surviving cancer to grow in the future. It predicts the figure will be four million by 2030.

It also highlights a rise in so-called lifestyle cancers, which can include kidney, liver and skin cancers.

Macmillan wants the nation's politicians to demand cancer survival rates to match the best in Europe, but also to pledge their support for patients and also decent, dignified end-of-life care.

 

 

 

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