More Scots beating cancer

Survival rates are up for women with breast cancer

The chances of surviving cancer in Scotland have improved dramatically over the past 30 years, according to new figures.

The Scottish Executive, which is due to reveal fresh figures on Thursday, said better treatment, screening and earlier diagnoses are paying off.

But senior doctors believe there is still a worrying rise in the number of cases of cancer being diagnosed.

Susan Deacon: Lifestyle plea to Scots

The disease remains one of the biggest killers in Scotland with one in three Scots likely to contract one form or another.

And one in four will die from cancer.

The executive's senior medical advisers said they were heartened by the improvement.

The latest statistics, to be published in full by Health Minister Susan Deacon, are based on trends since 1971, when figures were first compiled, and are due to show some significant successes.

Around 90% of men with testicular cancer are now expected to survive at least five years and 70% of women with breast cancer are beating the disease.

Both sets of figures are substantially up on rates of 10 years ago.

However, doctors believe there is no room for complacency.

As well as making public the findings, Ms Deacon is expected to emphasis that lifestyle improvements must continue if the incidence of cancer as a whole is to be cut.