Concerns over 50 percent of cancers get caught late in Scarborough borough
Yorkshire Cancer Research has released figures to highlight inequalities
There are concerns that over 50 percent of cancers get caught late in the borough of Scarborough.
Yorkshire Cancer Research has released figures as the charity launches a new campaign to highlight the "stark inequalities in cancer diagnosis and treatment that exist in Yorkshire."
Yorkshire Coast statistics
Coastal towns tend to have some of the worst health outcomes with low life expectancy and high rates of many major diseases
The total cancer incidence rate in Yorkshire is 3% higher than the rate in England (627 per 100,000 vs 610 per 100,000).
The total cancer mortality rate in Yorkshire is 6% higher than the rate in England (270 per 100,000 vs 255 per 100,000).
Scarborough has the lowest proportion of cancers diagnosed early (at Stage 1 and 2) in Yorkshire (49.1%). England = 55%.
The charity is calling for people across the region to show their support for those with cancer and help improve cancer survival by signing up to its No Matter Where campaign.
It says people in Yorkshire are more likely to get cancer and more likely to die from cancer than almost anywhere else in England.
Dr Kathryn Scott, Chief Executive at Yorkshire Cancer Research, said: “Everyone should have the best chance of surviving cancer, no matter where you live or who you are. Through the pioneering research funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research and our long history of saving lives in the region since 1925, our charity has a deep understanding of Yorkshire’s cancer problems. With the help of people across Yorkshire, we can raise awareness of these and take action to save lives.”
Yorkshire Cancer Research says the region has the third worst cancer outcomes in England. In 2019, an estimated 627 cases of cancer were diagnosed per 100,000 people in Yorkshire, compared to 610 in England as a whole. During the same year, there were an estimated 270 deaths from cancer per 100,000 people in Yorkshire, compared to 255 in England.
The No Matter Where campaign highlights five key reasons why cancer is worse in Yorkshire.
Yorkshire Cancer Research says due to Yorkshire’s geographical size and diversity, not everyone is able to access to the highest quality cancer services and treatment. For example, due to time and travel costs people from rural areas are less likely to choose to have treatment or may not have treatment at a specialist cancer centre where there can be more treatment options available.
A lower proportion of people in Yorkshire are diagnosed at an early stage, when there are often more treatment options available, and treatment is more likely to be successful. If Yorkshire matched England in terms of early diagnosis, nearly 400 more people would be diagnosed at an early stage each year.
Participation in screening, which helps prevent cancer and find it at an early stage, is also a key factor. Not everyone takes part in bowel, breast and cervical screening when invited, and in some parts of Yorkshire only 4 in 10 people complete their bowel screening.
Yorkshire also has the highest smoking rates in England, and lung cancer causes around 3,000 cancer deaths in the region each year, more than any other cancer.
Research-active hospitals are proven to deliver better care for patients than those where there is little or no clinical research8. But in some hospitals in Yorkshire less than 3 in 10 people have cancer research opportunities discussed with them, compared to the national average of more than 4 in 109.
As well as calling for everyone in Yorkshire to receive access to the highest quality treatment, the campaign is asking for Yorkshire to receive its fair share of cancer research funding.
Dr Scott continued: “Together, we are finding new and better ways to help save more lives – in your city, your town and your local community. We urge people to join our campaign and help to shape the future of cancer care in Yorkshire.”
Visit the Yorkshire Cancer Research website to find out more about the charity's No Matter Where campaign.