Breast cancer deaths at record low

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Obesity, heavier drinking, an ageing population and women having children later in life have contributed to a steep rise in cancer cases of more than 50% over the last 25 years.

But the latest figures analysed by Cancer Research UK showed the number of women dying from breast cancer in 2007 was 11,990, the lowest level since records began.

Health Minister Ann Keen said: "The decline in breast cancer mortality rates is proof of the real improvements in our cancer services.

"We have made significant progress over the last 10 years, including extending breast screening to women aged up to 70, reducing waiting times for suspected cancer and adding nearly 1,879 extra cancer consultants since 1997.

"We will be extending the screening programme to include all women aged 47 to 73 by 2012, meaning 400,000 more will be screened each year."

In 2007, 11,990 women in the UK died from breast cancer. In 1971 - the first year statistics were collected - 12,472 women died from the disease.

From 1971 onwards, the number of women dying from breast cancer rose steadily year on year, reaching a peak of 15,625 in 1989. Since then, breast cancer death rates have fallen by a third - from 41.6 women per 100,000 in 1989 to 26.7 women in 2007.

Experts said better treatments for breast cancer and advances in diagnosis are behind the fall in the number of deaths. Improved chemotherapy, radiotherapy and the emergence of hormone treatments such as Tamoxifen and Anastrozole help prevent the disease from coming back.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, with 45,500 women and around 300 men diagnosed with the disease every year. It is the second most common cause of cancer death in women after lung cancer.