Chances of beating breast cancer at their highest for 40 years, say doctors

THE number of women dying from breast cancer has fallen to its lowest in almost 40 years, according to new figures.

Obesity, heavier drinking and women having children later in life have contributed to a steep rise in cases – of more than 50 per cent over the past 25 years. An ageing population and findings of a link between HRT and breast cancer have also led to a rise in the number of women diagnosed with the disease over that period.

But the latest figures analysed by Cancer Research UK show the number of women dying from breast cancer has fallen to its lowest level since records began.

In 2007, 11,990 women in the UK died from breast cancer. In 1971 – the first year statistics were collected – 12,472 women died from the disease. From 1971 onwards, the number of women dying from breast cancer rose year on year, reaching a peak of 15,625 in 1989.

Since then, breast cancer death rates have fallen by a third – from 41.6 women per 100,000 in 1989 to 26.7 women in 2007.

Experts say better treatments and advances in diagnosis are behind the fall in the number of deaths.

Improved chemotherapy and radiotherapy and the emergence of hormone treatments such as Tamoxifen and Anastrozole help prevent the disease from coming back.

Professor Peter Johnson, Cancer Research UK's chief clinician, said: "We hope these new figures will encourage women over the age of 47 to attend screening and to know that even if a tumour is found, their chances of beating it are better than ever."

Arlene Wilkie, director of research and policy at the Breast Cancer Campaign, said: "It is very encouraging that mortality figures are decreasing.

"However, we must remember that incidence figures are increasing and currently nearly 46,000 people will be diagnosed every year in the UK so research into breast cancer must continue apace in order to develop new treatments and ensure that mortality figures continue to decline."

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, with 45,500 women and about 300 men diagnosed every year.

It is the second most common cause of cancer death in women after lung cancer.

Previously published figures for Scotland show that 1,062 women died of breast cancer in 2007, down from 1,108 the previous year and 1,144 in 2005.

The risk of breast cancer increases as a woman ages, with about 80 per cent of cases in women aged 50 and over.

The number of women taking HRT has been falling, which is thought to have cut breast cancer cases among women in their fifties in recent years.