The number of people surviving some of the most common types of cancer has doubled since the NHS was launched 60 years ago.

The analysis by Cancer Research UK and the National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN), covers England and Wales and looks at the survival rates for people five years after diagnosis.

Patients with breast, colon and bowel cancer have a far greater chance of surviving than when the NHS was born.

This is despite a huge rise in the number of cancer cases owing to a growing population and people living longer.

However, the figures showed that patients suffering stomach or lung cancer still have a poor prognosis.

The survival rate for colon cancer more than doubled from 18 per cent to 47 per cent, and breast cancer survival also more than doubled, from 37 per cent to 77 per cent, between 1946 and 1998.

Cervical cancer survival rates have also increased, from 35 per cent for people diagnosed between 1945 and 1947, to 61 per cent for those diagnosed between 1996 and 1999.

Rectal cancer survival rates more than doubled over the same period, from 22 per cent to 50 per cent.

In contrast, although survival for stomach cancer has improved and also for lung cancer, the prognosis is still very poor for both cancers.

Screening programmes have led to improved detection rates, which has contributed to a higher overall number of cancer cases being recorded.

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