New figures show that the death toll from cancer among people over 75 is higher in the UK than most Western countries.
A team from the North West Cancer Intelligence Service (NWCIS) in Manchester, UK, analysed national statistics and concluded that up to 15,000 people over 75 could be dying prematurely from cancer each year.
Despite cancer deaths among under 75s significantly falling over the past decade, "little progress" has been made in the over 75s. What’s more, the gap in death rates with other countries is getting wider.
"It’s worrying that so many older people die from cancer in the UK compared with other countries," said researcher Dr Tony Moran. "But, it’s not clear why this is. Research is urgently needed to understand the reasons for the extra deaths so that steps can be taken to prevent them.
"Cancer is largely a disease of older people, with about half of all cancers diagnosed in those aged 70 or older. Most 75 year olds could be expected to live for at least another ten years and we would expect them to benefit from improvements in treatment."
Dr Moran and his colleagues presented the research yesterday (June 25) at a conference of the National Cancer Intelligence Network.
Professor Mike Richards, the national cancer director, commented: "This is an important study and urgent action needs to be taken on the findings. We need to ensure that cancer patients of all ages are diagnosed as early as possible and receive appropriate treatment.
"The findings have already been shared with the National Cancer Equality Initiative and we will be working with the NHS and other interested parties to tackle any age inequalities."
Leave a Reply