Peter Hastie, External Affairs Manager for Scotland at Macmillan Cancer Support, said:
“Today’s significant data releases in Scotland paint a deeply concerning picture and are further evidence that someone’s experience of cancer can be made much worse simply because of who you are or where you live.
“Behind these figures are real people that represent individuals, families and communities whose lives have been impacted by cancer. The Scottish government must ensure that cancer care is made an urgent priority now, not later.”
“Today’s significant data releases in Scotland paint a deeply concerning picture and are further evidence that someone’s experience of cancer can be made much worse simply because of who you are or where you live.
“Behind these figures are real people that represent individuals, families and communities whose lives have been impacted by cancer. The Scottish government must ensure that cancer care is made an urgent priority now, not later.”
Key facts
- The latest official statistics for Scotland show that after adjusting for age, people who live in the most deprived areas of Scotland are 24% more likely to be diagnosed with cancer than people who live in the least deprived areas[1]
- The deprivation gap is even greater for certain types of cancer, with people who live in the most deprived areas of Scotland more than three times as likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer and more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with head and neck cancer, compared to people in the least deprived areas[2]
- In addition, after adjusting for age, people who live in the most deprived areas of Scotland are 78% more likely to die of cancer, and almost four times more likely to die of lung cancer in particular[3]
Notes to editor
- Macmillan’s recent analysis has revealed the number of people living with cancer in the UK has surged to almost 3.5 million, the highest figure ever reported for the UK and including around 290,000 people in Scotland[4]
- If you or someone you love is affected by cancer, we’re here, whatever you need to ask. Call Macmillan’s free support line on 0808 808 00 00, open every day 8am to 8pm or visit our website at www.macmillan.org.uk.
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