Dr Alexis Willett, Head of Policy and Education at Breakthrough Breast Cancer, was interviewed by Sky News this morning about a new report concerning cancer costs which are predicted to rise by more than a third over the next 10 years.
Cancer costs currently stand at £18.33 billion a year and look set to rise to £24.72 billion. The report says that if survival rates were to improve in line with more advanced European countries, £10 billion and 71 thousand lives could be saved over the next decade.
The report reiterates the main areas of concern are:
- Late diagnosis of cancer
- Poor survival rates among the elderly and deprived communities
- Relatively poor take-up of new treatments and technologies.
Dr Alexis Willett, Head of Policy and Education at Breakthrough Breast Cancer said:
"This report highlights just how many people are affected by cancer, whether directly or indirectly, and its financial impact on society. There is a real need to tackle cancer survival rates in the UK and investing now in raising awareness of cancer signs and symptoms to improve early detection will be vital in achieving improvements.
Many women are still not aware of the key signs and symptoms of breast cancer and Breakthrough encourages all women to be breast aware and check anything unusual out with their doctor."
Touch. Look. Check. Be breast aware >"Many women are still not aware of the key signs and symptoms of breast cancer and Breakthrough encourages all women to be breast aware and check anything unusual out with their doctor."
