Cancer

Cancer is a disease caused by normal cells changing so that they grow in an uncontrolled way. The uncontrolled growth causes a lump called a tumour to form. Tumours can cause problems by invading normal tissues, spreading around the body or by pressing on other body structures. There are hundreds of different types of cancer. Our organs are made up of different types of cells, each of which can give rise to a different type of cancer. Several changes to the genes in our cells are needed before a cell becomes cancerous. The longer we live, the more time there is for us to accumulate changes in our cells.

The cause of cancer is dependent on a combination of factors. In other words, there is no single cause for any one type of cancer. Factors which cause a particular type of cancer may not be linked to the development of other types. These factors may include age, diet, genetics, viruses, and environmental exposures such as: tobacco smoke, asbestos, sunlight and radiation.

Each year in the UK, more than a quarter of a million people are diagnosed with cancer. The four commonest cancers are breast, lung, bowel and prostate cancer, these make up over half of all cases. Doctors estimate that more than one in three of us will get some form of cancer at some point in our lives.1 Mortality rates from cancer have decreased since 1990 by 23% for men and 17% for women.2

References:
  1. Cancer Research UK - About Cancer- Overview [Online 09/10/2008]. Available from URL: www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=86
  2. Cancer Research UK – Mortality UK [Online 09/10/2008] Available from URL: info.cancerresearchuk.org/cancerstats/mortality/timetrends/?a=5441
Images from the NHS Photo Library

Charts

Age-standardised mortality, all cancers, by sex, Great Britain, 1971-2006
Cancer Research UK – Mortality UK [Online 09/10/2008] Available from URL: info.cancerresearchuk.org/cancerstats/mortality/timetrends/?a=5441

Data

Publication and policy documents from DH and elsewhere

  • Cancer Reform Strategy
    The Cancer Reform Strategy builds on the progress made since the publication of the NHS Cancer Plan in 2000 and sets a clear direction for cancer services for the next five years. It shows how by 2012 our cancer services can and should become among the best in the world.
  • Getting it right for people with cancer
    This report by the National Cancer Director outlines how services are being configured to meet the needs of cancer patients.
  • Cancer ten years on: improvements across the whole care pathway
    Outcomes from cancer are improving. Death rates in people under the age of 75 years are falling by around 2% per annum – overall cancer mortality in people under 75 fell by nearly 16% between 1996 and 2004.
  • NICE Cancer Guidance
    The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is an independent organisation responsible for providing national guidance on promoting good health and preventing and treating ill health. Its guidance includes recommendations on cancer services, clinical guidelines and technical appraisals.
Links to important organisation(s)

  • West Midlands Cancer Intelligence Unit
    A population based registry for the West Midlands region, which also includes the West Midlands breast and cervical screening quality assurance reference centres. Additionally the WMCIU also hosts the regional Health Geographical Information Systems Service. Publications are available from their website and they also offer an information request service.
  • National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN)
    NCIN brings together cancer registries, clinical champions, health service researchers and a range of other interested parties (including the Office for National Statistics; National Clinical Audit Support Programme; NHS Information Centre) under the auspices of the National Cancer Research Institute. To promote efficient and effective data collection throughout the cancer journey, provide a common national repository for cancer datasets, expert analyses to monitor cancer care, audit, research programmes and improve outcomes.
  • NHS Cancer Screening Programmes
    The cancer screening programmes in England are nationally coordinated. Currently there are screening programmes for breast, cervical and bowel cancer, there is also an informed choice programme for prostate cancer risk management.
  • United Kingdom Association of Cancer Registries (UKACR)
    The UKACR brings together organisations with an interest in developing cancer registration as a resource for studying and controlling cancer in the UK and Ireland.
  • Cancer Improvement
    Cancer Improvement is part of NHS Improvement. Working with and through clinical networks and NHS Organisations across England, NHS Improvement helps to transform, deliver and build sustainable improvements across the entire pathway of care in cancer, diagnostics, heart and stroke services.
  • NHS Cancer Networks
    Cancer networks were formed following the NHS Cancer Plan as an organizational model to drive the implementation of improvements in cancer services. They aim to improve the quality of treatment and care of cancer patients, improve access to high quality services, improve patient experience and improve outcomes. Networks are based around 'patient pathways', the route patients will take through the health care system from their first contact to completion of their treatment.
  • Cancer Research UK
    A leading cancer charity their website contains useful information about cancer and its treatment, cancer research and statistics.
  • National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI)
    The NCRI is a UK-wide partnership between the government, charity and industry which promotes co-operation in cancer research among the 21 member organisations for the benefit of patients, the public and the scientific community.
  • Cancer charities and other cancer related organisations
    Details of cancer charities and other cancer related organisations provided by the NHS Cancer Programme for England web portal.