Experts warn poor North East areas more prone to cancer

Jun 14 2010 by Alastair Craig, The Journal

HEALTH experts last night warned hundreds of people in the North East’s most deprived areas could constitute a cancer time-bomb.

Lives could be saved if people from poorer backgrounds were as healthy as the rich, a report from the National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN) claims.

The clinical research group found that 14,000 cases in England could be prevented each year if people in the poorest regions had a better standard of living.

People from underprivileged backgrounds are also more likely to suffer late diagnosis, inequalities in treatments offered, and are reluctant to attend cancer screening programmes, according to the NCIN.

The North East has some of the UK’s most impoverished local authority areas where unhealthy lifestyles – which include smoking, drinking and obesity – increase the risk of cancer. Parts of the country classified by the Government as deprived include sections of Tyne and Wear, Northumberland, County Durham and Cumbria.

Figures used in a Department of Communities and Local Government report showed the region has six districts in the top 50 nationally based on economic, social, housing and health issues.

Ian Lavery, Labour’s MP for Wansbeck, whose parents both died from cancer, vowed to demand an investigation if it was found patients in his constituency faced lower standards of care.

“There’s absolutely no reason why we should face inequality in treatment for cancer, and if this is really the case I will be calling for an inquiry,” he said.

“People in areas like Wansbeck seem to get a raw deal and that must change.”