Wales cancer study to show mortality and survival rates

An in-depth picture of how cancer is affecting people in Wales is set to be published.It will reveal details rates of death, survival and which cancers are most common across Wales.The last report by the Welsh Cancer Intelligence and Surveillance Unit in 2008 showed an increase in cancers in both men and women.As the population is ageing, it is possible those numbers have continued to increase.Cancer in Wales 1995-2009: A Comprehensive Report, which will be published later on Tuesday, is the fullest look at how many people get cancer in Wales.The study, published every three years, gives a detailed breakdown of more than 20 different kinds of cancer.It will outline cancer incidence, mortality, prevalence and survival as well as a comparison between Wales and other countries.The last report looked at the 15-year period up to 2006 and showed that between 1992 to 2006, incidence of all cancers (excluding non melanoma skin cancer) increased in both men and women by 22% and 12% respectively.It said that, although there had been a large increase in numbers, the increase was mainly down to an increase in diagnosis in the elderly.Men have roughly a one in three chance of being diagnosed with cancer before their 75th birthday, compared with a rate of about two in seven for women.Since then, the population in Wales, as elsewhere, has continued to age, so it is possible that the number will have increased.However the Welsh Government is keen to continue to reduce that. They want more investment in educating people about the importance of a healthy lifestyle as well as screening programmes.There are almost 120,000 people living with cancer in Wales. By 2030 that number will have nearly doubled, according to the cancer support charity Macmillan.There is ever-improving treatment and care for cancer patients.According to Prof Karol Sikora, one of the UK's leading cancer specialists, services for cancer in Wales are "very well organised"."There's no doubt that cancer services in Wales have really had a lot of thought put into them over the last 10 years and the results are actually better in many cancers than the rest of Britain," said Prof Sikora, medical director at Cancer Partners UK.However the prevalence of those with cancer could still increase.That would not necessarily be cause for alarm: it could be a result of people living with cancers which would have killed them 10 or 15 years ago.But it also raises an interesting point about the care patients receive while recovering from cancer.The fear that people like Macmillan have is that the non-clinical aspects of care are not a high enough priority. They will be working with the Welsh Government to try to improve the situation over the next few years.Cath Lindley, general manager for Wales MacMillan Cancer Support, said the charity regularly heard from cancer patients who wanted more emotional support."The needs of people affected by cancer... are changing," she told BBC Radio Wales. "And not everyone is getting the treatment and support that they want and need, when they need it - particularly post-treatment and non-clinical treatments."It's absolutely critical that people get the right treatment at the right time to deal with their cancer, but the price of not dealing with the other issues people face post-treatment has a financial impact later down the line."Not giving people the emotional and psychological support they need, not addressing their financial issues and the physical impact of having cancer treatment, does have an economic impact later on down the line because people go back into health services more frequently than people who haven't had cancer unless those needs are addressed." From / BBC