More patients surviving for at least ten years after cancer diagnosis

A report published by Macmillan Cancer Support has suggested that over 170,000 UK patients diagnosed with cancer 40 years ago are still alive. The charity also said that patients are twice as likely to survive for at least ten yeas after diagnosis than at the start of the 1970s.

However, the report, named Cancer Then And Now, also warns that surviving cancer can have its own side effects, such as financial difficulties and depression, and estimates that around 25% of survivors have long-term issues that require support.

The charity said that, although long-term survival rates are growing, more work was required to ensure patients received the right care.

Professor Jane Maher, Macmillan Cancer Support’s chief medical officer, said “We now see fewer of the big side-effects, such as an increased risk of heart attack and stroke, we saw after treatment in the 1970s and 80s.

“But some of the effects doctors consider ‘small’, such as fatigue and poor bowel control, can have a profound impact on someone’s quality of life.

“Sadly there is no cancer treatment available at the moment that does not carry a risk of side-effects.”

Jeremy Hunt, Health secretary, said the findings of the report were “excellent news” and praised the staff involved in the treatment, diagnosis and care of patients.

He went on to say “To help, we announced last year that by 2020 people diagnosed with cancer in England will benefit from an individually tailored recovery package.”

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Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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