Risk of dying from cancer in Manchester almost double other areas
A shocking new study is highlighting health inequalities
Last updated 12th Dec 2023
People who live in poorer neighbourhoods in England have a significantly higher risk of dying from cancer compared to those in wealthier areas, a new study shows.
Researchers suggested that cuts to public health services, such as smoking cessation support, could have contributed to “astounding inequality” in cancer death risk.
For women, the risk of dying from cancer before they turn 80 ranged from one in 10 in Westminster to one in six in Manchester.
And one in eight men in Harrow are expected to die from cancer before they turn 80, this is compared to one in five in Manchester.
The researchers looked at deaths across 314 different areas of England which took place between 2002 and 2019.
The team, led by academics at Imperial College London, found that the risk of cancer deaths were highest in northern cities, including Liverpool, Manchester, Hull and Newcastle, and in coastal areas to the east of London.
Theo Rashid, first author of the study and PhD student at Imperial College London, said:
“The greatest inequality across districts was for the risk of dying from cancers where factors such as smoking, alcohol and obesity have a large influence on the risk of getting cancer.
“Due to funding cuts, many local authorities have reduced their budgets for smoking cessation since 2010. Our data shows we cannot afford to lose these public health programmes and are in urgent need of the reintroduction and strengthening of national and local policies which combat smoking and alcohol.”
Amanda Cross, study author and professor of cancer epidemiology at Imperial, added:
“Access to cancer screening and diagnostic services which can prevent cancer or catch it early are key in reducing some of the inequalities our study highlights.
“Those who are more deprived are less likely to be able to access and engage with cancer screening.
“To change this, there needs to be investment into new ways to reach under-served groups, such as screening ‘pop-ups’ in local areas like supermarkets and working with community organisations and faith groups.”
David Fothergill, chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said:
“This report clearly illustrates the disparities in cancer survival rates across the country.
“We need to ensure that cancer screening services can be accessed by all communities and that everyone, regardless of their social and personal circumstance, has an opportunity to make an informed personal choice about cancer screening.”
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said:
“Reducing inequalities and variation in cancer treatment is a priority for this government.
“Smoking is the cause of around one in four cancer deaths, and the Government has pledged to introduce a new law to stop children who are 14 this year or younger from ever legally being sold cigarettes, to create the first smoke-free generation.
“Cancer is being diagnosed at an earlier stage, more often, with survival rates improving across almost all types.
“Our Major Conditions Strategy sets out how we will improve cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment, and we have opened 136 community diagnostic centres offering over five million additional tests, including for cancer.
“We are also establishing a National Targeted Lung Cancer Screening Programme in England that when fully rolled out in 2030 will detect around 9,000 cases earlier each year.”