AROUND 15,000 people diagnosed with cancer in the South West today will survive the disease for at least ten years, according to new figures published by Cancer Research UK.

In the early 1970s just a quarter of people diagnosed with cancer in the UK survived 10 years, now it is 50 per cent.

Cancer Research UK hopes that three-quarters (75 per cent) of all cancer patients diagnosed in 20 years time will survive at least 10 years.

The charity hopes these latest figures will inspire women across the region to sign up to Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life events to raise money to help even more people survive cancer.

Karen Davis, Cancer Research UK’s spokesman for the South West, said: “Every year, tens of thousands more people are surviving cancer a decade after diagnosis, showing that we’re gradually reversing the tide on this devastating disease.

“This is thanks to the work of our scientists and doctors, but none of it would be possible without the generosity of the public, whose donations we rely on to fund all our research.

“But each year more and more people are diagnosed with cancer. We believe no one should be diagnosed too late for their life to be saved and effective treatments should be available to every patient, no matter what type of cancer they have. That’s why thousands of women will be raising money through Race for Life events in the South West this summer to help fund vital research.”

For more information on Race for Life visit raceforlife.org or call 0845 600 6050.