Increase in breast cancer survival rates

MORE people are surviving breast cancer in Wales than ever before but the diagnosis rate continues to rise, new figures reveal.

A new study by the Welsh Cancer Intelligence and Surveillance Unit has found that breast cancer is still the most common cancer in women.

But survival rates are high compared to many other cancers, with 96.7% of breast cancer patients living one year after diagnosis between 2009 and 2013.

It was a significant improvement on the 93.7% recorded between 2000 and 2004.

Similarly, the five-year survival rate is increasing “rapidly” in Wales ac- cording to the findings, with 86.9% of patients diagnosed between 2005 and 2009 continuing to live.

Improvements in screening, treatment and awareness have all contributed to the survival rate increase, along with earlier diagnosis, researchers say.

But the number of cases being diagnosed each year is increasing and hit nearly 3,000 in 2014 alone in Wales.

The experts claim this has been caused by an ageing population, an increase in alcohol intake, heightened obesity rates and a lack of exercise.

Other risk factors that have played a part in the increase are taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and the growing trend of women having fewer children and later in life.

Breastfeeding been known to women against cancer.

Dr Dyfed Wyn Huws, director of the Welsh Cancer Intelligence and Surveillance Unit, said: “We’re likely to see many more women being diagnosed and living with breast cancer in Wales as the incidence increases and as survival continues to improve.” has protect breast