Member Article

Lung cancer rate 27% higher in the North West

The incidence rate of lung, trachea and bronchus cancers is 27% higher in the North West compared to the national average, according to new data by North West Cancer Research.

The charity, which is dedicated to prioritising the cancer needs of people living in the North West and North Wales, has identified a number of concerning trends as part of its 2023 regional report.

All five counties in the North West recorded above average rates of lung, trachea and bronchus cancer, with Liverpool being the most affected at a 44% higher incidence rate. The next two counties with the highest rates are Cumbria (33%) and Lancashire (20%).

The other top five cancers most prevalent in the North West are: • Oesophageal: 24% higher than the national average • Liver: 23% higher than the national average • Cervical: 19% higher than the national average • Ovarian: 17% higher than the national average • Skin: 13% higher than the national average

The study assessed the impact of 19 key cancers across the North West, of which the region was found to have over-indexed on 15. Residents in the North West of England are 25% more likely to be diagnosed with cancer than in the rest of the UK.

Some communities across the North West face particularly acute cancer challenges. In Liverpool incidence rates of liver cancer are 43% higher than the national average and rates of oesophagus cancers are 34% more common, which are the highest rates for both cancers in the region.

Cumbria has the highest overall incidence rate for cancer in the North West, indexing at 28% above the rest of the region. This is an increase of 5% compared to North West Cancer Research’s 2022 regional report. Some cancer types in the county pose a particular concern, such as kidney and ovarian cancers, which are 43% and 41% higher than the average national incidence rate respectively.

Cancer rates in the North West have remained largely static for several years, with the overall incidence rate remaining above the national average every year since North West Cancer Research’s inaugural regional report in 2020.

The total cancer death rates for some of the most prevalent and problematic regional diseases highlight key challenges for the North West’s health infrastructure. Compared to the national average, lung, trachea, and bronchus cancer deaths were 25% higher while liver and stomach cancer deaths are 24% and 15% higher respectively. Lung, trachea and bronchus cancer ranks as the fourth highest cancer for overall incidence in the North West and first for the most overall deaths.

The research links the disproportionate cancer rates with significant levels of inequality in the area. North West Cancer Research’s report shows that communities in the North West face significantly above average rates of deprivation when compared to the rest of the country. Out of the North West’s five main regions, Greater Manchester experiences the highest levels of deprivation and Cheshire is the only area that records less deprivation than the national average.

North West Cancer Research continues to investigate the connections between high levels of deprivation and correspondingly high levels of cancer in order to achieve the goal of cancer-free communities.

Alastair Richards, North West Cancer Research CEO, said: “The North West is a region unlike any other, with world-leading people, places, culture and creativity around every corner. Sadly, the North West’s cancer landscape is also markedly distinct, with communities in the region facing a number of serious challenges which require urgent, localised attention.

“By annually assessing the cancer challenges in the North West at a granular level, we’ve been able to identify the most acute issues facing the region. This has highlighted that not only is the North West well behind the national average in many areas but also that the cancer rates are remaining stubbornly static.

“This strongly suggests that the North West is facing an entrenched problem. To resolve this, we must better understand the region’s complex and multifaceted issues which are closely connected with high levels of deprivation. This clear correlation highlights the fact that more targeted, community-level support is needed which addresses both the societal as well as medical aspects of cancer.”

The role that socio-economic factors play in an area’s health expectations is highlighted in the report by data that indicates it is ‘lifestyle related’ cancers – lung, liver, kidney, stomach, and skin – that show the most alarming regional disparities.

Alastair added: “The prospect of being diagnosed with cancer should not be connected to a person’s postcode. This is why we’re committed to supporting research projects and awareness campaigns that break the link between where someone lives and their likelihood of developing cancer.

“Many of the challenges cancer poses are very specific and localised. Understanding how it’s affecting people at a community level is an important part of identifying where further research is needed and what evidence-led interventions a location needs.”

Since 2000, North West Cancer Research has invested more than £45 million in research projects to find new cures and improve care for anyone in the North West coping with cancer as well as preventative awareness campaigns that address cancer inequalities.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by John Robson .