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Lung cancer deaths higher in the north

18/06/2008

People are more likely to die from lung cancer in the north of England than in the south, a new report has found.

The study, the first from the newly-created National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN), also revealed that women in the south of England have a higher chance of dying from breast cancer than their northern counterparts.

In general cancer deaths are approximately 20 per cent higher in cancer networks in the north than the rest of England. Cancer deaths were lowest in networks in the south and midlands.

The north-south divide is thought to be due to a number of factors, especially higher smoking rates in the north, which are linked to increased risks of smoking-related cancers, and higher levels of deprivation.

While lung cancer remains the biggest cause of cancer death in men across England, the most commonly diagnosed cancer in each of the 30 cancer networks was prostate cancer.

Professor David Forman, information and analysis lead for the NCIN, said: "These figures show us that some of the past trends aren't changing – cancer death rates remain higher in the north than the rest of England.

"The emergence of prostate cancer, ahead of lung cancer, as the most common cancer in men is, however, a relatively new development and could be due to a combination of a general decline in smoking rates among men and a greater awareness of prostate cancer, leading to more men asking their doctor for a PSA [prostate-specific antigen] test."

The NCIN, which was launched today, will coordinate the collection, analysis and publication of national information on diagnosis, treatment and outcomes for types of cancers and types of patient.

It is hoped that the data will also be used to raise standards of cancer care by highlighting areas of cancer services that need improvement.