Disease figures - Cancer rise must be planned for

Statistics released for 1998 to 2000 by the National Cancer Registry suggest that the survival rate for all the major cancers is improving.

These figures should be welcomed, but this needs to be tempered by the realisation that instances of cancer are increasing.

Comparing the five-year survival rate from cancer from 1995 to 1997 with the figures for 1998 to 2000, the study found that the survival rate for breast cancer in women improved by 5%, and by 4% for colorectal cancer, while the survival rate among men for colorectal cancer increased by 8% and by 12% for prostate cancer.