Cancer is a major challenge to our health services. Approximately 21,000 new cases of cancer are recorded annually and one in three of our citizens will develop cancer in the course of their lifetime. Cancer is more common in older people and, as the population gets older, we can expect cancer cases to increase accordingly. The reduction since 1994 in cancer mortality rates is as a result of improved diagnosis, earlier interventions and improved and more widely available cancer treatments. It is expected that these trends will continue as a result of developments in cancer services and continued improvements in treatments.