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28 October 2010

Scotland is beating cancer


DOCTORS are winning the battle against cancer, with death rates from the disease plummeting over the past decade, a new report has revealed.
Cancer death rates in Scotland have fallen by 10 per cent since 1999, despite the number of people being diagnosed with the disease soaring to almost 30,000 a year.
Figures published by the Scottish Government yesterday revealed that almost 80 people a day are diagnosed with cancer, but earlier detection and better treatment means that record numbers of patients are surviving the condition.
Overall cancer mortality rates fell by 14 per cent among men and 6 per cent among women over the past decade. Breast cancer deaths were found to have dropped from 7,200 in 1990 to around 5,400 in 2008 after the number of women being screened for the disease doubled in five years.

Poor lifestyle choices are still holding Scotland back in the fight against cancer

Liberal Democrat public health spokesman Jamie Stone blamed rises on obesity, binge dirnking and smo
And diagnoses of stomach cancer were also found to have dropped by almost 30 per cent since 1999.
But concerns have been raised that Scotland’s love of alcohol, cigarettes and tanning salons is fuelling unprecedented rises in diagnoses of skin, lung and liver cancers.
Lung cancer was Scotland’s biggest killer, claiming 4,147 lives in 2008, while more than 1,500 people died of colorectal cancer.
The statistics also revealed a 55 per cent rise in males who have died from liver cancer in the past 10 years, while the number of women being diagnosed with lung cancer increased by 16 per cent.
Last night, Liberal Democrat public health spokesman ­Jamie Stone blamed obesity, binge drinking and smoking for the rises. He said: “These are shocking statistics. Poor lifestyle choices are still holding Scotland back in the fight against cancer.
“All these types of cancer can be directly linked to obesity and activities such as binge drinking, smoking and sunbathing.
“Ministers and health boards must redouble their efforts to change attitudes about making healthy lifestyle choices.” Diagnoses of skin cancer have rocketed by an astonishing 71 per cent among women and 68 per cent among men.
Doctors and health campaigners believe the increase is fuelled by demand for sunbeds and cheap package holidays.
Elspeth Atkinson, Macmillan Cancer Support’s director for Scotland, said: “One of the positive reasons for this rise is that more people are aware of the signs of skin cancer and are being diagnosed at an early stage.
“This is good news because, if caught early, skin cancer is very treatable.
“However, there is no doubt the trend for cheap package holidays to sunshine destinations and sunbed use has contributed to the rise in incidence.
“We would urge people to stay safe by avoiding sunbeds, covering up and wearing sunscreen.”
Since 1995, cancer mortality in Scotland has fallen by 22 per cent among those aged under 75.
Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon welcomed the improved figures.
She said: “One in three people will develop cancer during their life, but the good news is, as today’s statistics show, more people are living with and beyond cancer.
“Earlier diagnosis and better treatment means we are seeing mortality rates falling.”

**Published in "Scottish Daily Express"

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