Breast Cancer Deaths Falling Sharply in the UK

A recent study published in the British Medical Journal looking at data over the past 20 years Journal has found UK death rates from breast cancer to have fall sharply.

Over the past 20 years breast cancer death rates in the UK have fallen by 34% which is faster than any other major European country other than Iceland.

Although this is all positive news, the UK still remains the sixth worst country in terms of survival rates when compared to the other 28 countries in the dataset. Breast cancer is now the most common cancer in the UK, with around 46,000 new cases each year.

Breast cancer still kills 12,000 women per year in Britain, the analysis showed deaths from the cancer dropped from 41.6 deaths per 100,000 women per year in 1989, to 28.2 per 100,000 women in 2006.

Cancer charities believe this study provides evidence for all the improvements in treatment and reorganisation of services over the past 20 years.

"Breast cancer is thought to be due to a combination of lifestyle, genetic and environmental factors and many of these may differ between the UK and other populations.

Although some risk factors cannot be changed women can reduce their risk by drinking less alcohol, maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly.