THE NUMBER of women with breast cancer has rocketed in the past 30 years, but death rates for the disease are falling, researchers say.

The Office for National Statistics says that from 1971 to 2004 the number of cases of the disease in England rose by 81 per cent to 36,939. But since 1989, deaths have fallen by a fifth to 12,417 because of better treatment and earlier detection.

The rise has been blamed on dietary changes, an ageing population and because women are having smaller familes and breast-feeding less.

Mark Matfield, scientific consultant for the Association for International Cancer Research, said: “It is hard to pin down exactly what has caused this rise.” Lifestyle factors, such as the increase in obesity and alcohol consumption, had a significant impact “but so has the introduction of the national screening programme in the late 1980s”.

He added: “Better nutrition also means that the age of the first period in women is falling and this increases risk later in life. It is a complex picture.”

Lesley Walker, of Cancer Research UK, said that the risk of breast cancer increased steadily after the menopause, with women over the age of 50 acccounting for four out of five new cases. “The increase in the average body weight for women has risen in the past three decades, and in postmenopausal women this is contributing to increased breast cancer risk, as are some forms of HRT if taken for prolonged periods,” she said.

“Fortunately, more women than ever are surviving breast cancer, thanks to early detection of the disease through the national screening programme and substantial improvement in treatments.”

The Office for National Statistics said that it had taken the age factor into account when compiling its data.

Although breast cancer accounts for one in three newly diagnosed cases of all cancers, Dr Walker said that two thirds of sufferers were likely to survive for at least 20 years after diagnosis because of early detection rates.

“Over the age of 50, women should ensure that they go for breast screening when invited,” she said.

The second most common cancer in women was bowel cancer, accounting for 13,020 new cases in 2004, according to the Office for National Statistics.

For men, prostate cancer was the most common, accounting for a quarter of the total number of cancer cases. The number of prostate cancer sufferers had doubled since 1990 to 98 per 100,000.

MOST COMMON IN WOMEN

36,939 (31.9 per cent of total) cases were breast cancer in 2004

13,020 (11.2 per cent) were bowel cancer

12,337 (10.7 per cent) were lung cancer

MOST COMMON IN MEN

29,406 (25 per cent) cases were prostate cancer in 2004

18,071 (15.3 per cent) were lung cancer

15,817 (13.4 per cent) were bowel cancer

Source: ONS

Explore UK News

• Crime News

• Education News

• Health News

• Scotland News

Times Recommends

• The real-life adventures of Tintin the spy
• Our universities face a radical upheaval
• Doctor Who