Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Getting cancer is more common than weddings
30% increase in the disease, says survey
BEING diagnosed with cancer is now more common than getting married or having a first baby, says a study.
A total of 361,216 cancers were spotted in 2014, compared to 289,841 marriages, says Macmillan Cancer Support.
That’s more than the 271,050 babies born to first-time mums a year later. And cases have risen 30% since 2000.
Macmillan Cancer Support chief Lynda Thomas said: “As more and more people are being diagnosed with cancer, it’s important that we are all better informed about what to expect.
“It’s mostly life-changing, but not always life-ending.”
The data also showed that, over the last decade, more than 1.2 million people have been diagnosed with cancer under the age of 65. This includes 343,000 people who developed cancer in their 20s, 30s or 40s from 2006 to 2015.
Of 2,000 questioned, 37% said cancer is the disease feared most, ahead of Alzheimer’s (27%), stroke (7%), depression (4%) and heart disease (4%).
And for 10% of people, cancer is the biggest fear of all, ahead of losing a loved one, their own death or terrorism. Projections suggest around half of us will develop cancer at some point.
But 90% of people living with it said they were living their lives as normally as they could.
Charity boss Ms Thomas added: “Life with cancer is still life –you’re still a dad, a sister, a grandparent, a friend. “Macmillan has supported millions from the point of diagnosis, throughout treatment and into the future.
“Living well with cancer begins at diagnosis.
“People should come away from first appointments informed and knowing what support is available.”