Cancer care delays in poor areas behind 28,400 deaths

PATIENTS in poorer areas face the longest delays in cancer care, later diagnoses and are less likely to get new treatments, says a report.

- Hanna Geissler

Cancer Research UK blames 28,400 deaths each year on deprivation with almost half of these caused by lung cancer.

This form of the disease has a mortality rate almost three times higher in the most hard-up parts of England. Those in poorer areas also more likely to smoke and be obese both risk factors.

Cancer-related deaths were found to be almost 60% higher in the most deprived areas of the UK than in the least deprived.

The health gap means that around three in 20 of all deaths from cancer were linked to inequality and could be avoided if the whole country had the same mortality rates as the wealthiest places, says the charity.

Dr Ian Walker, at CRUK, said: "Beating cancer must mean beating it for everybody. No one should be at a greater risk of dying from this devastating disease simply because of where they live.