There has been a steep rise in the number of cancers associated with lifestyle factors such as alcohol, smoking, obesity and exposure to the sun, figures have revealed.

Rates of melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, have risen by more than 40 per cent in the past decade, making it the fastest rising cancer in Britain, the charity Cancer Research UK said.

Cases of mouth, womb, and kidney cancers have also shown rapid increases in the past ten years.

One in four of all deaths in Britain is caused by cancer, and the charity said that it was concerned about the increases. Some cases were potentially avoidable through simple precautions and lifestyle changes.

Holidaymakers were warned against spending too much time in the sun, as forecasters predicted an end to the heavy rain that has made this summer one of the wettest yet.

In 1995 there were 5,783 new cases of malignant melanoma, rising by 43 per cent to 8,939 in 2004. In the same period, mouth cancers rose by 23 per cent to 4,769 cases, while womb cancer increased by 21 per cent to 6,438 cases. Kidney cancer, which like womb cancer has been linked to rising levels of obesity, increased from 5,636 cases in 1995 to 7,044 cases in 2004, a rise of 14 per cent.

The study, by Cancer Research UK and the UK Association of Cancer Registries, also shows that rates of malignant melanoma have doubled since the mid1980s in women.

Too much exposure to the sun accounts for the “vast majority” of cases, according to the charity. Although it affects more women overall, rates have also tripled in men over the same period.

Sara Hiom, Cancer Research UK’s director of health information, said: “We’re very concerned that cases of malignant melanoma are spiralling. Exposure to UV radiation in sunlight is the main cause of skin cancer. Most cases of this disease could be prevented if people protected themselves in the sun and took care not to burn.”

She said that most cases of mouth cancer occurred in people who smoked or chewed tobacco and regularly drank alcohol. “As well as encouraging people to reduce their risk of mouth cancer, our priority is to raise awareness of the early warning signs of the disease, as this helps doctors to find cancers at an early stage when treatment is easier and there is a good chance of a cure.” Experts do not know exactly what causes womb cancer but overweight and obese women are twice as likely to develop the disease.

Two of the main risk factors for kidney cancer are smoking and being overweight. Although the risks of lung cancer from smoking are well known, scientists believe that cigarettes can also double the risk of kidney cancer. Overall, one third of all deaths from cancer are linked to tobacco smoking.

Ms Hiom added: “Everyone can help reduce their risk of cancer by avoiding smoking, keeping a healthy body weight, eating a balanced diet with plenty of fruit, vegetables and fibre and taking regular exercise.

“Enjoying the sun safely and avoiding sunburn also helps to reduce cancer risk and we encourage people to get to know their bodies and see their doctor if they notice anything unusual and attend screening when invited.”

The report had some good news - with rates of cervical cancer falling because of the national screening programme. It said that lung cancer rates - the most common cancer in Britain - were also continuing to fall, especially among men.

Lucy Morrish, who compiled the figures for Cancer Research UK, said: “While incidence rates for some cancers have fallen over the past decade, others are rising and many of these cases could be prevented if people avoided excessive sun exposure, smoking and obesity and limited their alcohol intake.”

According to the British Association of Dermatologists, southwest England alone has experienced an 18 per cent rise in cases of melanoma in two years.

Norman Lamb, the Liberal Democrat health spokesman, said: “This disturbing report is further warning that people need to be sensible in the sun this summer. Failing to deal with pressing public health issues now can have serious consequences later on. This must be a priority for the NHS.”

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