Early cancer deaths cost £10bn a year

PEOPLE dying early due to cancer costs the economy £10.3billion a year, the most comprehensive analysis of its kind has revealed.

- By Hanna Geissler Health Editor

Cancer Research UK calculated the number of working years lost to the disease alongside patients’ expected economic output in that time.

It found cancer deaths among adults aged 25 to 49 are having a significant effect on overall economic output, costing £3.2billion annually.

Wasted

Lung cancer accounts for the biggest overall earning hit to the economy at £1.7billion a year, with 54,000 productive years lost.