New study shows rise in UK cancer diagnoses

More than 330,000 people are currently being diagnosed with cancer each year in the UK, the highest level ever.

This is according to data from Cancer Research UK, which reveals there were around 283,000 cases diagnosed in 2001. The main reason for this increase is the ageing population, with more people developing the disease as they get older.

However, the report also noted that more people than ever are beating the disease, with survival doubling in the last 40 years thanks to improvements in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

In the 1970s, 23 percent of cancer patients survived ten years, climbing to around 46 percent by 2007.

Dr Harpal Kumar, Cancer Research UK's chief executive, said: "Research is the only way we'll be able to reduce the devastating impact of the disease. One day we will beat cancer. The more research we do, the sooner that day will come."

This comes after research from the UCL School of Pharmacy earlier this month suggested that UK cancer death rates could be set to fall more rapidly between now and 2030 than they have done in the previous 20 years.