Macmillan Cancer Support has found that the proportion of people who will develop cancer at some point in their lives has increased by more than a third over the past two decades.
In 1992, 32% of people who died that year had been diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives and by 2010, this had risen to 44%
The number who get cancer who don't die from the disease has increased by 67% over the past 20 years, in 1992, around one in five people diagnosed with cancer died from another cause, and by 2010, this had risen to more than one in three
The charity also found growing evidence that many cancer patients do not return to full health after treatments.
Charity: 'Serious note of caution' for cancer rise
Macmillan Cancer Support's chief medical officer Professor Jane Maher said the fact that we liver longer as a nation and the improvement of cancer treatment are "things to celebrate".
She added that there was, however, a "need to add a serious note of caution:"
The more successful we are with treatment and cure, the more people we have living with the long-term effects of cancer and its treatment.
Many patients can be left with physical health and emotional problems long after treatment has ended. People struggle with fatigue, pain, immobility, or an array of other troublesome side-effects.
We need to manage these consequences for the sake of the patient, but also for the sake of the taxpayer. We should plan to have more services to help people stay well at home, rather than waiting until they need hospital treatment.
Almost half UK will be diagnosed with cancer by 2020
Almost half the number of people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer by the year 2020, a charity has warned.
Macmillan Cancer Support said the stark rise in the number of people who get, and survive, cancer poses a "herculean" challenge to the NHS.
Rise in cancer will provide a 'herculean' challenge for the NHS, Macmillan Cancer Support said Credit: Macmillan Cancer Support
The charity added that although almost one in two people are expected to get the disease, around four in 10 patients (38%) will not die from it.
The research was conducted from existing data on cancer prevalence, incidence and mortality, and found that the number of people who will develop cancer has increased by more than a third over the past two decades.
Growing problem of cancer costs 'can't be ignored'
Cancer patients who work and those with children fork out an average monthly cost twice as high as those who are not in work or who do not have any children, a Macmillan spokeswoman has said.
This new research shows that cancer comes with a whopping price tag for many patients.
Combined with the current recession and with welfare cuts, the cost of the disease is hitting the most vulnerable hardest.
With the number of people living with cancer in the UK doubling from two to four million by 2030, this is a growing problem which cannot be ignored.
Cancer costs the equivalent of a second mortgage. We must act now to protect the financially vulnerable from having to foot the bill for their illness.
Researchers found hospital appointments cost two in three patients around £170 each month. Credit: Hugh Macknight/PA Wire
Cancer sufferers are forced to pay an average bill of £570 a month through their treatment, researchers have found.
Macmillan Cancer Support said four out of five patients face the "whopping" amount, which is comparable to a monthly mortgage payment.
Researchers at University of Bristol found the diagnosis of cancer often led to raised fuel bills, repeated travel costs for hospital appointments and a loss of income.
Support for cancer patients worried about staying warm
If you are concerned about staying warm this winter, you can get advice from Macmillan Cancer Support by calling 0808 808 00 00, or by visiting the website.
Macmillan: Cancer patients are 'punished for their condition'
Mike Hobday, director of policy and research at Macmillan Cancer Support, has said that cancer patients are in a "dire" situation facing high energy costs combined with a lower income.
Thousands of cancer patients are falling behind with their energy bills and resorting to turning the heating off, even though its vital for their recovery that they keep warm.
Cancer patients simply cannot afford to meet rising fuel prices at a time when many suffer a loss of income - it is appalling that they are being punished for their condition.
Survey: Cancer patients are in debt to energy companies
The cancer charity Macmillan has warned that around 27,000 cancer patients in the UK could be in debt as a result of falling behind on their energy bills.
A survey of 535 people who have been diagnosed with cancer in the last two years found that:
5% of respondents are currently in debt to their heating provider
54% are worried about the cost of heating their homes this winter
30% have had to turn off the heating in the last three months to save money
34% have put on outdoor clothes indoors to keep warm
