One in Two to get Cancer?

One in two people to get cancer in their lifetime according to the latest reports, back in the 1980’s it was one in four. This is very confusing, that says to me that we are going backwards in the fight against cancer.
Millions of people have stopped smoking between the 1980’ and the present day and yet the figures are far worse now, it just doesn’t make sense to me.
What does it say to you?

Re: One in Two to get Cancer?

We are generally living longer and it seems to me that cancer increases in old age. All those smokers who gave up and haven't died of smoking related disease will now have the opportunity to get cancer...

Re: One in Two to get Cancer?

I can't say it really surprised me. Every other one of my friends has it or has had it. It's really on the increase, without a doubt. I think it's something that some have to die with, but it seems to be getting more common. If not then heart disease and strokes. I don't think we'll ever find a cure for some cancers. I can only assume it's something to do with our lifestyle today.

Re: One in Two to get Cancer?

The longer we live the more likely it is that cells degenerate the more likely we are to develop one or other forms of cancer. Many of these are developing at ages that people in the past in general didn't live to see,

Re: One in Two to get Cancer?

Exactly. It is increasingly a disease of old age.

Re: One in Two to get Cancer?

Yes as the above 2 comments say it's all to do with increased life expectancy and the fact that other diseases of later life are so well controlled in comparison to what they were.

Re: One in Two to get Cancer?

If you don't want to get cancer then die in your middle years.

Re: One in Two to get Cancer?

It's looking very much like that now Alan.

Re: One in Two to get Cancer?

Those who have smoked for years are now presenting with cancer, also increased binge drinking and other lifestyle choices are increasing the cancer rates, together with the population explosion it's not surprising that the figures are increasing.

Re: One in Two to get Cancer?

We can send a man to the moon, yet we can't cure a disease they've been studying and researching for decades.

Cancer affects most everyone, whether you get it yourself or not. My dad died of lung cancer, my aunt died of lung cancer, another aunt died from leukemia, a good friend of mine died of breast cancer (at the age of 35) and my son's dad was discovered to have rectal cancer. Thanks to surgery, he's now cancer-free, but of all the people I've known over my lifetime that's had cancer, he's the only one who has beaten it.

I wish they'd find a cure for it. But I really don't think we'll see that in our lifetime.