More than 1 million lives saved in the UK over past four decades due to advances in cancer care

More than a million lives have been saved over the past four decades thanks to cancer advances, analysis shows.

UK cancer death rates have fallen by about a quarter since the mid 1980s, in a ‘golden era’ of improved diagnosis and treatment.

The rise in screening programmes and a drastic fall in smoking have combined to stop a further 1.2 million lives being lost, according to Cancer Research UK.

Cancer mortality rates peaked in 1985 for men and 1989 for women, and have since fallen by 24 per cent.

UK cancer death rates have fallen by nearly a quarter since the mid 1980s thanks to advances in care and improved diagnosis

Cancer Research UK chief executive Michelle Mitchell said: ‘A huge number of people have reached milestones in their lives they didn’t think they’d see.’

But the charity said cancer remains the UK’s leading cause of death when all types are combined, and warned that ‘enormous strain’ on the NHS puts further progress at risk.

The latest analysis comes weeks after it was announced that many cancer waiting time targets will be controversially dropped, amid claims they slow down diagnosis and treatment.