20.08.12
A ticking time bomb
The rising cancer rates can be attributed to a growing ageing population and increased survival from the disease, researchers suggest.
Put simply, there will be more elderly people around, which means the proportion of these people who develop cancer will also increase.
It has been clear for some time that an ageing population will bring with it a myriad of additional challenges for the health service. Improved treatments and research helping to develop new cures all the time are positive steps towards containing this ‘time bomb’.
But there is much more that can be done to minimise risk of cancer before it develops. This will require a healthier mindset throughout the population, with a particular focus on how the elderly can modify their lifestyle and avoid becoming one of the 4.1 million.
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