60% of people with cancer live over 5 years

Three out of every five people with cancer will survive for at least five years after the diagnosis, thanks to significant improvements in early detection of the condition.

New figures set to be detailed at a major cancer survivors conference later this year show that, despite the ongoing spectre of the condition, the chances of beating cancer have improved drastically.

Between 1994 and 1997, just 45% of people who were diagnosed with any form of cancer were still alive five years later.