Northerners in the UK more prone to certain cancers

Jul 11 2005

According to the office for National Statistics (ONS) ' "Cancer Atlases" for the 1990s, people in the north of England and Scotland are far more likely to get certain cancers than those living in the south.

Apparently Scots and northerners are more prone to lung and stomach cancer, and that appears to be linked to smoking and alcohol use, as well as socio-economic deprivation, and experts say the data shows that deprived areas need targeting.

The ONS says that over 25,000 of the cancers and 17,000 of the cancer deaths, could be preventable by helping smokers quit and drinkers cut down on their alcohol consumption.

A Department of Health spokeswoman says that it is crucial that preventative actions are implemented in those areas where cancer is particularly high.

The ONS survey looked at 21 different cancers.

Of the cancers related to heavy smoking and alcohol intake, cancers of the lung, larynx, lip, mouth and pharynx, the incidence and death rates were lower than average in the south and midlands of England, but higher than average across the north of England and Scotland between 1991 and 2000.

Similar geographical patterns were evident for bladder, kidney, oesophageal and stomach cancers.

Scotland, along with Ireland and Northern Ireland, also came out worse for colorectal cancer.

Cervical cancer rates were higher than average in the north of England, urban west midlands and, again, in Scotland, but were not related to local cancer screening differences.

However there was very little geographical variation in the incidence and death rates of breast, ovary and prostate cancers.

According to the ONS, the incidence of all cancers in Scotland, England and Wales rose gradually over the 1970s and 1980s then levelled in the 1990s to over 270,000, and this was partly due to better diagnosis.

The most common cancers remain lung, colorectal, breast and prostate cancer.

The data will apparently help the NHS plan its strategies in beating cancer.

The NHS says it is crucial that preventative actions to help people lead a healthy lifestyle are implemented first in those areas where prevalence of cancer is particularly high, and a group of the 88 most health deprived areas in England, will be targeted to pilot initiatives such as health trainers and enhanced stop smoking services.

The data in this report pre-dates the Cancer Plan, which was published in 2000 and sets out a comprehensive programme over 10 years aimed at tackling cancer inequalities.

Five years on, a 12% reduction in cancer mortality since 1997 can be seen, a step towards achieving the Government's aim of a 20% reduction by 2010.

Dr Lesley Walker of Cancer Research UK, says it is already well known that half of all cancers could be prevented by changes to lifestyle.

He says merely tackling exposure to secondhand smoke at work, which causes more than 600 deaths each year across the UK, would help, and he endorses a new call for a total ban on smoking in public places.

Cancer Research UK's Chief Executive, Professor Alex Markham, says a comprehensive ban on smoking in enclosed public places, without exemptions, is the only practical way to give workers the protection they deserve.

This appears to have worked in Ireland, and Scotland is set to adopt similar comprehensive legislation.

The Macmillan Cancer Relief organisation says money must be invested to identify the barriers that are preventing some disadvantaged groups from accessing cancer services.

Andrew Lansley, the Conservative Shadow Health Secretary, says there are a range of socio-economic factors that contribute to the North-South divide in cancer rates, but measures, such as the even distribution of vital drugs, has failed to be introduced by the government.