Diet and drink put women at 1-in-4 risk of cancer

Cancer campaigners said women in the UK were 17 per cent more likely to suffer from the disease than the European average.

With poor lifestyle habits thought to be behind higher levels of illness in Scotland and elsewhere in the UK, the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) has estimated that 80,000 cases of cancer could be prevented each year if people kept to a healthy weight, were active, ate well and did not drink too much alcohol.

The charity analysed data from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which showed women in the UK had a 25.1 per cent chance of developing cancer by the age of 75.

For European women, the risk was lower at 21.4 per cent, according to figures from 2008.

The statistics also revealed that UK women were also more likely to die from cancer before the age of 75 than their European counterparts, with 10.6 per cent dying from the disease compared to 9.4 per cent in Europe.

However, the figures show some good news for British men compared to their European counterparts.

European men on average had a 29.5 per cent risk of developing cancer before the age of 75 - but this dropped to 27.8 per cent in the UK.

Men in the UK are also 6 per cent less likely to die from the disease, with 13.3 per cent dying compared to the European average of 16.2 per cent.

The WCRF said many cancer cases could be prevented through healthy lifestyles.

For women, 33 per cent of cases of cancer of the oesophagus are linked to obesity, as are 19 per cent of pancreatic cancer cases, 21 per cent of gallbladder cases, 16 per cent of breast cancers and 28 per cent of cancers of the womb lining.

Figures show that rates of obesity in Scotland are among the highest in the world, with levels rising significantly in recent years.

Between 1995 and 2009, rates of obesity increased from 17.3 per cent to 26.4 per cent in women, and from 15.9 per cent to 26.8 per cent in men.

Alcohol misuse - which is also linked to the develop of several cancers - is also high in Scotland.

In 2009/10, more than 26,000 patients were treated in hospital for an alcohol-related condition in Scotland. In 2009, almost 1,300 people died due to alcohol abuse.

Dr Rachel Thompson, deputy head of science for the WCRF, said: "On average, women in the UK are more likely to be overweight and to drink more alcohol than the European average and this is a concern because both these factors increase cancer risk.

"They are not the only reasons for the differing cancer rates, but there is now very strong evidence that women who drink a lot of alcohol are at increased risk of developing the disease and that excess body fat is also an important risk factor."

Dr Thompson added that reducing alcohol consumption and obesity was "one of the big public health challenges" faced by the country.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "Scotland has made good progress in cancer treatment over the last two decades, with cancer being diagnosed and treated earlier and new targets on cancer waiting times being met ahead of schedule.

"But more needs to be done, which is why we are launching an important new initiative, the Detect Cancer Early Implementation Plan.

"The Scottish Government recognises the increased cancer risks associated with obesity and alcohol abuse.

"That's why our obesity action plan, launched in March, focuses on early prevention, while we're committed to tackling Scotland's damaging relationship with alcohol."

Detection could save 300 lives every year

PLANS to save more than 300 lives a year by detecting cancer earlier are being set out by the Scottish Government.

Many deaths due to cancer are thought to be linked to patients being diagnosed too late, when their disease may no longer be treatable.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon, right, is today launching a consultation on the Detect Cancer Early Implementation Plan, which will see 30 million pumped in to support it over the next four years.

Schemes to increase awareness of cancer symptoms, improved education for doctors and investment in diagnostic equipment are likely to play a central role in picking up cancer at an earlier stage.

The aim of the initiative will be to save more than 300 lives a year by the end of the next parliamentary term, with the most common cancers such as lung, breast and bowel, the first to be targeted.

The plans were welcomed by cancer charities in Scotland. Sarah Woolnough, director of policy at Cancer Research UK, said: "Early diagnosis of cancer is crucial to improving cancer survival rates in Scotland."

A spokeswoman for Macmillan Cancer Support Scotland said: "There is a need for more public awareness so people are aware of the signs and symptoms, and if they are worried they need to go to their GP to be checked out. There should also be work supporting GPs to improve early detection."