title: Trends in the lifetime risk of developing cancer in Great Britain: comparison of risk for those born from 1930 to 1960.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Typically, lifetime risk is calculated by the period method using current risks at different ages. Here, we estimate the probability of being diagnosed with cancer for individuals born in a given year, by estimating future risks as the cohort ages.
  
  
  METHODS
  We estimated the lifetime risk of cancer in Britain separately for men and women born in each year from 1930 to 1960. We projected rates of all cancers (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) and of all cancer deaths forwards using a flexible age-period-cohort model and backwards using age-specific extrapolation. The sensitivity of the estimated lifetime risk to the method of projection was explored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The lifetime risk of cancer increased from 38.5% for men born in 1930 to 53.5% for men born in 1960. For women it increased from 36.7 to 47.5%. Results are robust to different models for projections of cancer rates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The lifetime risk of cancer for people born since 1960 is >50%. Over half of people who are currently adults under the age of 65 years will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lifetime.
authors: Queen Mary University of London, Centre for Cancer Prevention, Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK.
authors: A S
authors: AS
authors: Ahmad
authors: Cancer Research UK, Head of Statistical Information, Angel Building, 407 St John Street, London EC1V 4AD, UK.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Ormiston-Smith
authors: Queen Mary University of London, Centre for Cancer Prevention, Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK.
authors: P D
authors: PD
authors: Sasieni
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
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