Cancer in the UK

Cancer Development and Risk Factors

• Cancer develops when DNA mutations cause uncontrolled cell growth.
• Carcinogens (environmental chemicals) can cause mutations.
• Risk factors include: exposure time, genetics, diet, lifestyle, health, age, gender.
• Cancer frequency varies between socioeconomic groups. Higher socioeconomic status is linked to higher risks of colon, prostate, breast, and skin cancers; lower socioeconomic status is linked to higher risks of lung, stomach, oropharyngeal, esophageal, and cervical cancers.
• Environmental risk factors account for at least two-thirds of cancer cases in developed countries. Lifestyle choices are often influenced by poverty.

Lifestyle-Related Cancers

• Some cancers are preventable through lifestyle changes.
• Increased wealth is linked to increased sunbathing/sunbed use, which increases skin cancer risk.
• Changes in diet (increased meat, dairy, fast food) are correlated with bowel cancer increases.
• Increased alcohol consumption (with rising income) increases oral, esophageal, and liver cancer risk.
• Lack of exercise and dietary changes contribute to obesity, increasing cancer and cardiovascular disease risks.
• Smoking remains a major cause of cancer in men and women. Twenty percent of UK-diagnosed cancers are smoking-related.

Cancer in the UK

• 980 people are diagnosed with cancer and 440 die each day in the UK.
• Cancer incidence has increased 12% since the early 90s due to an aging population.
• Projection of over 514,000 new cancer cases per year by 2035 (40% increase).
• 35,000 working-age people die from cancer annually, impacting the workforce.
• 120,000 diagnosed under 65, many not returning to work.
• Over a million people in the UK care for someone with cancer, impacting economic productivity.

Socioeconomic Disparities in Cancer

• Cancer rates in deprived areas of the UK are significantly higher than in affluent areas.
• Rate for some cancers in the poorest areas are up to 3 times greater than in the most affluent.
• Survival chances are better in affluent areas for some cancers compared to deprived areas (e.g., 14.2% higher bladder cancer survival rate).

Strategies for Cancer Prevention and Treatment

• Direct strategies: Invest in advanced medical technology (radiotherapy, endoscopy), reduce waiting times for diagnosis and treatment.
• Indirect strategies: Promote lifestyle changes (health campaigns), focusing on reducing smoking, excessive drinking and poor diets.
• International Agencies and Charities: Conducting research into causes, prevention, diagnosis, and treatments.

Skin Cancer

• Skin cancer rates are rising annually (3% increase), partly due to increased sunbathing and sunbed use.
• Government interventions include controlling commercial sunbed use (age limits, staff training), public awareness campaigns.
• UV intensity forecasts and safe exposure limits are provided by the MET office during summer.