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“Heartbreaking” data has revealed the shocking truth about cancer survival rates in England. According to a new major study, people living in some parts of the country are up to 70 percent more likely to die from the disease compared to others.
Among the areas most affected are northern cities such as Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle and Hull, as well as some coastal areas. In comparison, wealthy parts of London have the lowest death toll.
Experts have linked this disparity to a number of factors including lifestyle habits like smoking and drinking. However, poor screening uptake, access to treatment and delays to diagnosis were also blamed.
As part of the study, researchers looked at death records from between 2002 and 2019 for the 10 most deadly cancers across 314 regions of England. Based on this they were able to estimate the risk of dying from each cancer before the age of 80, depending on gender and where a person lived.
They found that since 2002, the overall risk of dying from cancer had declined from one in six to one in eight for women. And for men it dropped from one in five to one in six.
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But, as reported by the MailOnline, these improvements were not seen equally nationwide.
As an example, one in six women in Manchester are still dying from cancer, compared to one in ten in Westminster, in London.
And one in five men in Manchester are still dying from disease, significantly above one in eight in Harrow, London.
Lead study author Professor Majid Ezzati, from Imperial College London, explained: “Although our study brings the good news that the overall risk of dying from cancer has decreased across all English districts in the last 20 years, it also highlights the astounding inequality in cancer deaths in different districts around England.”
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For both men and women, the risk of dying from cancer was far greater in areas with higher poverty rates.
This was mainly due to the higher instances of lung cancer in those districts – the disease responsible for the most cancer deaths in the UK.
Women living in Knowsley, Merseyside, and men in Manchester, were found to be three times more likely to die from lung cancer compared to those in Waverley and Guildford, Surrey, respectively.
However, people in poor districts of London had lower chances of dying from lung, bowel and oesophageal cancer than in similar poor districts elsewhere.
Researchers linked this to diverse ethnic populations and better access to specialist treatments in hospitals in London.
Overall, death rates in that time fell among the majority of cancers, but those for liver and pancreatic cancer are still rising. This is thought to be due to drinking alcohol and diets high in sugar.
The study findings come as a new report by Macmillan Cancer Support revealed that more than 60,000 people with cancer could live an additional six months or even more if diagnosis and treatment targets were actually met.
Now the charity is calling on ministers to prioritise cancer and improve outcomes.
The report showed that more than one in four (29 percent) patients diagnosed in the past two years who have experienced delays said that they believe this has led to their cancer getting worse.
Steven McIntosh, from Macmillan, said: “The situation for people with cancer is nothing short of heartbreaking.
“This is categorically unacceptable and entirely avoidable; it doesn’t have to be this way.
“Today’s data suggests that if politicians across the UK stepped into action and waiting times targets were hit, over 60,000 people with cancer would survive an extra six months or more, allowing more precious time with friends and family.
“If this doesn’t strike a chord with our governments, what will?”
Risk of women dying from cancer before 80
Highest risk
- Manchester 17%
- Middlesbrough 16.7%
- Knowsley 16.7%
- Kingston upon Hull, City of 16.6%
- Liverpool 16.5%
- Stoke-on-Trent 16%
- Hartlepool 15.9%
- Salford 15.8%
- Sunderland 15.8%
- Halton 15.7%
Lowest risk
- City of London 11%
- New Forest 10.9%
- Waverley 10.8%
- Camden 10.8%
- Isles of Scilly 10.5%
- Barnet 10.4%
- Brent 10.4%
- Harrow 10.3%
- Kensington and Chelsea 10.2%
- Westminster 10.1%
Risk of men dying from cancer before 80
Highest risk
- Manchester 22.1%
- Kingston upon Hull, City of 21.7%
- Liverpool 21.7%
- Middlesbrough 21.3%
- Blackpool 21.1%
- Knowsley 21.1%
- South Tyneside 21.1%
- Stoke-on-Trent 20.9%
- Burnley 20.7%
- Halton 20.7%
Lowest risk
- Woking 14%
- Mole Valley 13.9%
- Waverley 13.9%
- Epsom and Ewell 13.6%
- Elmbridge 13.4%
- City of London 13.1%
- Kensington and Chelsea 13%
- Barnet 12.9%
- Westminster 12.7%
- Harrow 12.2%
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