why are there so many people getting different types of cancer now?

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Hi, 

as an ex-nurse I am wondering why we are hearing of so many people these days getting diagnosed with several types of cancer? It was virtually unheard of 20 years ago.

People got cancer that metastisised but not different types at once.

Thanks
Blush

  • Hello Squeak,

    Thank you for contacting Macmillan. My name is Helen, I’m one of the Cancer Information Nurses on the Macmillan Support Line.

    Welcome to the online community. I see you have posted an earlier query, which my colleague is answering for you, so I will attempt to answer your question about the possible increase in the diagnoses of another primary cancer in another region of the body as opposed to the metastasis - or spread - of the original primary cancer to another region of the body.

    This is a multi-factorial issue, and my answer doesn’t encompass the socioeconomic differences that exist in the UK with its attendant risk of poorer health literacy, lower uptake of vaccines and screening tests.

    However, with the above caveat said, many of us in the UK are fortunate to have access to obstetric services, childhood immunisations, workplace health and safety regulations and cancer screening tests among many other things that keep us safe and well and means that more of us survive into adulthood and old age. It is not as remarkable as it was for someone to reach their centenary.

    But with older age comes an increased risk of certain diseases, and one of these is cancer. Although there is a notable rise in cancer diagnoses in the under 50s, more than three-quarters of all people diagnosed with cancer in the UK are 60 and over.

    Cancer is a genetic disease, by that I mean it is a disease that originates due to slow  changes to our DNA. These changes can be caused by, for example, cigarette smoking, sun exposure and environmental factors - what we eat and what we breathe. About 5-10% will be due to inherited gene mutations (changes).

    The longer we live, the longer we are exposed to these factors, and the more time there is for those DNA changes to result in a cancer. 

    As cancer treatments improve and newer and more sophisticated tests, therapies and procedures are developed, cancer treatment outcomes for many common cancers is more successful.

    Cancer survival figures have doubled in the last 50 years which means that not only is the general public enjoying longer life spans, so too are those who have had a cancer diagnosis.

    However, certain types of cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, may increase the risk of a second primary cancer and having certain inherited gene mutations may also increase the risk of a second primary cancer. So as cancer survival rates improve and increase, it is possible that the very small risk of a second cancer may increase. 

    This is a basic answer to a very complex question Squeak, but I hope you find it interesting!

    With best wishes, Helen

    Cancer Information Nurse Specialist 

    You can speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email

    Ref:  HM/KMc