Survival rates for people diagnosed with two of the most common types of cancer have significantly improved since the 1970s, according to figures from Cancer Research UK
In a report compiled by the charity and scientists at The University of Manchester, they found the ten-year survival rate for people diagnosed with malignant melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, has increased to 80% from 38% in men, and to 90% from 58% in women in the past 40 years.
The research stated that skin cancer survival rates have been boosted by improvements in treatment, early diagnosis and awareness of the symptoms.
Meanwhile separate figures by the charity found that almost all men diagnosed with testicular cancer are now surviving.
The survival rate for men diagnosed with testicular cancer has increased to 96% from below 70% in the early 1970s. Cancer Research UK said the success is largely due to the effectiveness of the chemotherapy drug cisplatin, which the charity helped to develop.
Dr Harpal Kumar, Cancer Research UK’s chief executive, said: “For some types of cancer, the word ‘cure’ is almost a reality.”
But he added: “It’s only by doing more research that we can bring forward the day when we are able to beat all types of cancer.”
