Data suggests deprived areas face higher cancer incidence

New figures from the Welsh Cancer Intelligence and Surveillance Unit at Public Health Wales show people living in the most deprived areas of Wales continue to face significantly higher rates of cancer than those in more affluent communities

- HOLLY MORGAN

PEOPLE living in the most deprived areas of Wales continue to face significantly higher rates of cancer than those in more affluent communities, according to new figures from the Welsh Cancer Intelligence and Surveillance Unit (WCISU) at Public Health Wales.

The Cancer Incidence in Wales 2002-22 report shows that in 2022, the cancer incidence rate was 20 percent higher among the most deprived fifth of the population compared with the least deprived fifth - a disparity that has remained largely unchanged since 2006.

More than half of all new cancer diagnoses in 2022 occurred in people aged 70 and over. The report also highlights that while incidence dropped during the first full year of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the figures from 2022 indicate a partial return to pre-pandemic levels, suggesting a rebound in diagnoses that may have been delayed during that period.

Over the two decades from 2002 to 2022, the number of new cancer cases in Wales rose by nearly one-third, from around 16,000 to just over 21,000. This increase largely reflects demographic changes, including population growth and an ageing population.

However, after adjusting for these factors, the overall cancer incidence rate rose by only 1.2 percent during the same period. According to the report, this modest increase mirrors long-term trends in risk factors such as smoking, obesity, and alcohol consumption - patterns that are closely linked to persistent socioeconomic inequalities and other underlying determinants of health.