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The number of women living with lung cancer in the UK is set to rise 35 times faster than in men within the next 30 years – almost quadrupling from around 26,000 in 2010 to around 95,000 in 2040 – warns Macmillan Cancer Support[1].
This is in stark contrast to just an eight per cent increase in men (around 39,000 in 2010 to around 42,000 in 2040).
Lung cancer is the biggest killer among men and women[2], but by 2040 the number of women with lung cancer will have overtaken men.
By 2040 fewer than half (47%) of women with lung cancer will be long-term survivors (alive at least 5 years from diagnosis) compared with three-fifths (59%) of men[1]*.
According to new Macmillan-funded research by King’s College London, the number of people in the UK living with lung cancer will have doubled by 2040 (from around 65,000 in 2010 to around 137,000)[1]. The overall increase in lung cancer is mainly due to an ageing population.
In 2010, lung cancer received just a quarter of the amount of research funding compared with breast cancer[3]. This is despite the fact lung cancer kills more people in the UK than any other cancer[4].
Ciarán Devane, Chief Executive of Macmillan Cancer Support, says:
“Lung cancer is often overlooked among cancers but these figures should serve as a firm reminder that it is still very much a cancer killer. “For most cancers in the UK we are looking at how we can cope with a population of long-term survivors with health complications. With lung cancer we are a long way from even being able to consider these issues. “Lung cancer survival needs to improve. Prevention is important but so too is research into the disease and its treatment. It is nonsensical that research in this area receives such minimal funding compared with other cancers. This has to change.”
“Lung cancer is often overlooked among cancers but these figures should serve as a firm reminder that it is still very much a cancer killer.
“For most cancers in the UK we are looking at how we can cope with a population of long-term survivors with health complications. With lung cancer we are a long way from even being able to consider these issues.
“Lung cancer survival needs to improve. Prevention is important but so too is research into the disease and its treatment. It is nonsensical that research in this area receives such minimal funding compared with other cancers. This has to change.”
One of the treatment options - which is often under used - is surgery. It can be key to survival for many lung cancer patients, yet access to it varies dramatically within the UK[5].
If you have any questions or concerns about lung cancer and need information or support, call Macmillan’s Support Line free on 0808 808 00 00 or visit www.macmillan.org.uk/lung|.
Andrea Shufflebotham, Senior Media & PR Officer ashufflebotham@macmillan.org.uk| 0207 840 4689 (out of hours 07801 307068)
1. Maddams J, Utley M, Møller H. Projections of cancer prevalence in the United Kingdom, 2010-2040. Br J Cancer 2012; 107: 1195-1202. Projections scenario 1 presented here.
2. Cancer Research UK. Lung cancer mortality statistics - UK http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/cancerstats/types/lung/mortality/| (Accessed August 2012).
3. National Cancer Research Institute. Cancer Research Database (CaRD) 2011 - Data on cancer research funding by NCRI partners. http://www.ncri.org.uk/default.asp?s=1&p=3&ss=6| (Accessed July 2012).
4. Cancer Research UK. Lung cancer incidence statistics - UK http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-info/cancerstats/types/lung/incidence/| (Accessed November 2012).
5. Richard, M. Achieving World Class Cancer Outcomes in Cancer Treatment. 2011. Office of Health Economics, London.
* This reflects the fact that incidence rates are currently increasing in women and decreasing in men.
Macmillan corporate partner Coral are supporting Lung Cancer Awareness Month by helping Macmillan raise awareness, inform and educate customers about the importance of early detection and diagnosis of lung cancer. Between 19-25 November staff at Coral shops across the UK will be giving out Macmillan lung cancer leaflets on the signs and symptoms.
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