Experts predict breast cancer death rates falling fastest in UK
- 20.03.2019
- JessicaMG
- Clinical-negligence, Clinical-negligence
According to new research, Britain has the fastest falling death rates from breast cancer out of the six most populated countries in Europe.
The Europe-wide study, published in Annals of Oncology medical journal, was led by Prof Carlo La Vecchia of Milan University’s medical school, along with researchers from Italy, Switzerland and the US.
They predict a fall in the UK breast cancer mortality rate to 13.33 per 100,000 this year – based on a previous estimate of 18.39 in 2005-2009, which dropped to 16.19 in 2010-2014.
This figure means that by the end of 2019, the UK will have experienced the highest percentage fall - 17.7% - compared to Germany (12.5%), France (12.1%), Spain (11.3%) and Italy (9.7%), while Poland has seen a 6.1% rise. A breast cancer death rate of 13.33 will also see the UK put slightly ahead of the EU average of 13.36.
According to the research, women aged 50-69 will benefit from decreasing mortality, while women aged 70-79 will gain the least. Experts say the reason for the fall in UK breast cancer mortality rates is largely due to ‘screening, earlier diagnosis and better treatment’.
However, factors such as increasing obesity rates and the UK’s aging population mean that the overall number of people dying from breast cancer will keep increasing, even though the death rate is decreasing.
Death rates for other cancers were also investigated, and it was found that for seven of the major cancers (including bowel, stomach, prostate and bladder cancer) the death rate was also falling. In lung cancer, which kills more people in the UK than any other cancer, male death rates are falling while female death rates are rising and mortality rates in pancreatic cancer are still very much on the rise.
The co-authors of the study predict that overall, deaths from cancer are continuing to increase across Europe and will reach 1.4 million in 2019 – compared to 1.35 million in 2014.
Helen Dolan, Head of Clinical Negligence and Senior Partner here at PRD, comments:
The NHS is to be applauded for improving breast cancer survival rates, although for many years we have been at the bottom of the European league table, and therefore the fall in our death rate has to be seen in this context. Our survival rates for other cancers are still much poorer than our European neighbours, and we show no signs currently of reversing the trend. There is also concern that recruitment across oncology and radiology is falling hence significant investment is needed to ensure that we do not set ourselves back further
Helen Dolan is a Senior Partner and clinical negligence solicitor here at Potter Rees Dolan. Should you have any queries about clinical negligence issues, or indeed any other aspect of this article and wish to speak to Helen or any other member of the team, please contact us on 0161 237 5888 or contact Helen directly.