Poverty Increases Cancer Rates in Scotland

A new report from Cancer Research UK has found that poverty is causing an increase in the number of smokers, with nearly 5,000 cases of cancer reported in Scotland every year. The landmark report on poverty and cancer, released at last week's Scottish Cancer Conference, reveals that the burden of cancer is unequally felt across Scotland.

The Cancer Research UK has stated that individuals residing in impoverished areas in Scotland are at a higher risk of developing cancer and unfortunately, are also more likely to succumb to the disease. Shockingly, the poorest populations have a cancer mortality rate that is almost 74% higher than those in the least deprived areas.

The report also estimates that around 4,900 cases of cancer in Scotland every year are caused by poverty. If the most deprived areas had the same cancer incidence rates, 13 extra new diagnoses could be avoided every day.

The report highlights the urgent need to address the issue of inequality on the road to combating cancer. This involves reducing preventable causes of cancer, eliminating barriers to early diagnosis and high-quality treatment, and improving data collection to better understand cancer inequalities in Scotland and their underlying factors.

Scotland has the highest proportion of preventable risk factor-related cancers compared to any other UK nation. Smoking is the leading cause of cancer in Scotland, responsible for almost one fifth of all cases. However, we also know that smoking is more common among the most deprived populations. In 2019, 32% of the poorest population were smokers compared to just 6% of the wealthiest population.

The Scottish government has set a popular "smoke-free" target of having fewer than 5% of adult smokers by 2034. However, based on current trends, the smoking rate among the poorest groups may not even reach 10% over the next 25 years. Therefore, if efforts are not sustained to reduce smoking among the impoverished, their risk of cancer in the coming decades will be higher.

The Scottish government has not elevated electronic cigarettes to the same level as the UK government.

Early detection of more cancers is crucial for improving cancer outcomes. However, detecting cancer early in impoverished areas can be more challenging for various reasons," said the UK Cancer Research.

There is a significant disparity in the uptake of cancer screenings, with a 20% lower intake for breast and bowel screenings among the poorest individuals compared to the most deprived population. Research also shows that awareness of certain cancer symptoms decreases in impoverished communities, and individuals are more likely to report barriers to seeking help. Another major bottleneck in cancer care pathways for Scottish patients is diagnostic services, as regional variations in expert workforce capacity exacerbate the issue.

The report presented some suggestions but did not urge the Scottish government to make greater efforts to encourage smokers to switch to e-cigarettes.