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According to a new analysis, the number of women who died of breast cancer in the UK could increase by 2022.
The increased incidence of the disease, coupled with slower survival rates, means that the number of people at risk of losing their lives could start to increase in four years, said Breast Cancer Now.
The charity urged the government to act, describing it as a "unique opportunity" to end thousands of deaths.
Breast cancer survival rates improve, but the aging of the UK population and the rising rates of obesity, among other factors, mean that a greater number of women are diagnosed.
This expected increase in breast cancer deaths is very worrisome, but it's not too late to stop it
According to the analysis, in 2021, 11,095 women aged 15 to 90 years would die of this disease.
The researchers suggest that this number will reach 11,876 deaths by 2035.
Baroness Delyth Morgan, CEO of Breast Cancer Now, said, "The expected increase in breast cancer deaths is very worrisome, but it is not too late to stop it.
"We now have a unique opportunity to invest to prevent thousands of other women from dying from breast cancer and we urge the government to act now.
"It's so encouraging that thanks to decades of progress in research and investment in the NHS, more and more women are surviving breast cancer.
"But these advances are not sustainable without more investments to cope with the expected increase in the number of women who lose their lives."
The charity has released a new report calling for more investments in breast cancer as part of the NHS's long-term plan.
The government should address the geographic variation of NHS breast cancer services, invest in local initiatives to improve selection and fund interventions to prevent "preventable" deaths.
Baroness Morgan said: "With the incidence continuing to increase, and the progression of survival now stalled, we simply can not afford to miss such chances of preventing thousands of deaths.
"Preventing the spread of breast cancer and finding ways to treat it effectively remains our greatest research challenge for improving survival – but the government must seize every opportunity to save lives."
Approximately 55,000 women and 350 men are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in the UK, while more than 11,000 have lost their lives.
The number of deaths dropped from 15,625 in 1989.
Most deaths are due to metastatic or secondary breast cancer, when tumor cells spread to other parts of the body.
– Press Association
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