Mortality rates for UK's most common cancers - breast, bowel and male lung cancer are at their lowest since 1971, Cancer Research UK says.

More than 100,000 people are diagnosed with these cancers every year, but fewer are dying from the diseases.

Mortality rates for the majority of cancer types have decreased in the past 10 years.  Apart from female lung cancer, all of the four most common causes of cancer death - lung, bowel, breast and prostate cancers - have seen decreases in the last decade, with male lung cancer dropping by more than one fifth, and female breast cancer by 18%. The largest falls in mortality have been for stomach cancer, more than a third, and cervical cancer,around a third, between 1998 and 2007.

Overall, the male cancer mortality rate has been consistently higher than the female cancer death rate, but has decreased more quickly: almost a quarter (24%) versus 11% respectively since 1971

Cancer Research UK believes that s is because of new and more effective treatments and screening, and as far as lung cancer is concern, the decrease is a result of higher no. of people who are giving up smoking.

The charity has launched a new TV ad campaign to improve awareness and raise money for further research.

Harpal Kumar, chief executive of Cancer Research UK said that survival rates have doubled in the last thirty years.

Some facts bout cancer:

· There are more than 200 types of cancer, each with different causes, symptoms   
   and treatments.

·  There are around 293,600 new cases of cancer diagnosed each year in the UK.

· More than 1 in 3 people will develop some form of cancer during their lifetime.

· Breast, lung, bowel and prostate cancers together account for over half of all new
  cancers each year.

· Cancer can develop at any age, but is most common in older people.

·  Around three-quarters of cases occur in people aged 60 and over.

A fast and accurate diagnose is a highly critical element in battling cancer. Make sure to read about MyHealthPortal's second opinion service for cancer cases.