Breast cancer is the most common cancer among UK women, although survival rates are increasing due to early detection and improved treatments.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Wales | Fury at 17-week cancer test wait

Even though the test was self-applied, the detection rate actually improved, with 24% of the 1, 000 women participating found to have the infection.

BBC: pipette and samples

In the case of prostate cancers, the rise in registrations is likely to be mainly due to improved detection rates and awareness of the disease among men.

BBC: Cancer cases on the rise