Deprivation is responsible for 78 extra cancer deaths per day in the UK, according to new research by Cancer Research UK.
Cancer death rates were found to be 60% higher in deprived areas compared to more affluent ones, equating to 28,400 deaths each year. Cancer Research UK estimates than one in 10 cancer diagnoses are linked to deprivation.
For all cancers combined, the death rate was 337 deaths per 100,000 in the most deprived areas compared to 217 in the least. Nearly half (47%) of these deaths were caused by lung cancer, which had a three times higher death rate in deprived areas.
These figures were shared in Cancer Research UK’s report, titled Cancer in the UK 2025: Socioeconomic deprivation.
Ian Walker, executive director of policy and information at Cancer Research UK, said: ‘Beating cancer must mean beating it for everybody. No one should be at a greater risk of dying from this devastating disease simply because of where they live. These figures are shocking and unacceptable – but crucially, they’re avoidable.’
Deprivation and cancer care: later diagnosis, less effective treatment
The report also revealed geographic disparities in cancer care, with deprivation linked to later diagnosis and less effective treatment. It found that people in the most deprived areas were 50% more likely to be diagnosed as a result of emergency symptoms.
Ian Walker continued: ‘People from more deprived areas are being diagnosed too late. Improving access to NHS services through funding and innovation will be vital, so that everyone gets the care they deserve.’
Patients from deprived areas were also found to be the most likely to wait more than 104 days to begin treatment after an urgent referral. They were around half as likely to receive new treatment interventions for or stage four lung cancer.
Karis Betts is Cancer Research UK’s inequalities programme lead. She said: ‘To tackle cancer inequalities, our health services need to work together with communities themselves – to prevent the causes of cancer and spot the disease earlier.
‘Sustainably funding support to help people stop smoking will avoid so many cancer cases in deprived areas. But we also need new and better ways to diagnose cancer at an early stage, like targeted lung screening, which is proven to help save lives in at-risk communities.
‘It’s vital that this is fully rolled out across England, followed by all UK nations.’
Oral health disparities
A recent survey found that children’s oral health was similarly affected by deprivation levels. Five-year-olds in the most deprived areas were more than twice as likely to have experienced decay (32.2%) compared to those in the least deprived areas (13.6%).
Regionally, the north west had the highest prevalence of decay, with 28.7% of five-year-olds likely to have experienced it. However London’s Brent had the highest rate of all local authorities at 43.4%.
The survey also found that the decay rates in four regions have worsened: London, Yorkshire, the south west and the north east. Overall levels throughout the UK had reduced slightly from 23.7% to 22.4%.
Dr Charlotte Eckhardt, dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons, said: ‘We’ve seen a slight improvement overall in number of five-year-olds with tooth decay, but it is still too high. The fact that more than one in five children still suffer from an entirely preventable condition is concerning.
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