When I was a child, my grandad died from cancer caused by a lifetime of smoking. I was only small, but I still remember his suffering vividly.
His refusal to acknowledge anything was wrong with him for far too long could be put down to a stereotypically tough working-class attitude. One of battling on, no matter what was thrown at him. A carry-on-regardless approach to health.
But the reality is deeper and more complex than this. My grandad’s story is one amongst many which reveal a clear and devastating trend.
I grew up in Barnsley, just a mile or so from my Grandad. Barnsley is, according to the Index of Multiple Deprivation, one of the poorest parts of England. The Health Secretary Wes Streeting has spoken before of a “postcode lottery” when it comes to cancer. This term can be thrown around lightly in the media, but a new report from Cancer Research UK shows that this is not an overstatement – it’s a reality.
The study shows that 28,400 cancer deaths each year in the UK are linked to socio-economic inequality. That’s 28,400 people who are losing precious moments with the people they love, simply because of the area where they live, work, or grew up.
What would have happened if my grandad had lived in a different, more privileged environment? Could his addiction have been avoided? Could his cancer have been diagnosed earlier? Would he have been offered more effective treatment for it?
These deaths expose a health system which is failing people from the poorest areas. To really address cancer inequalities, we need to rip them up at their roots, preventing the causes of cancer and spotting it early.
Smoking is a scourge on deprived areas, taking thousands of lives each year. Sadly, cases like my grandfather’s (who became addicted as a child) are far from an exception. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill which is currently going through parliament will be vital to prevent so many more tragic cases – but the government must also sustainably fund services which help people quit smoking.
But preventing people from getting cancer isn’t the whole story. Alongside the stress and anxiety of a cancer diagnosis, patients in the most deprived areas of England are up to a third more likely to experience excruciating delays to beginning treatment. Even once they begin care, some patients in deprived areas receive less effective treatment options. Working for a charity whose purpose is to fund groundbreaking advancements in cancer care, it’s devastating to think that these might not be reaching the people who need it most.
My grandad’s reluctance to speak to a doctor about his symptoms is an example of another great tragedy – the countless patients who have their cancer caught too late.
Our research shows that people in the poorest areas of England are 50% more likely to be diagnosed through emergency presentation – when cancer is often already at a late stage and much harder to treat.
We need to take advantage of proven ways to spot cancer earlier. Campaigns which raise awareness of the importance of seeking help can make a big difference. There are also new and creative techniques to reach at-risk communities, like targeted lung screening, which brings care into people’s local areas.
Nothing like this existed for my grandad’s generation – if it had, so much suffering could’ve been avoided. The Government must recognise this huge opportunity to save lives, and refuse to take its foot off the gas when it comes to early diagnosis.
It’s no secret that, despite the best efforts of NHS staff, health services across the UK are under huge pressure. But it’s vital that in this difficult period, the most disadvantaged in our society don’t get left behind. The UK Government’s recently announced National Cancer Plan for England is a chance to look at the big picture on inequalities, seeing where resources are needed most and filling those gaps.
Change is possible, but it requires bold political action. Beating cancer has to mean beating it for everyone – and Cancer Research UK stands ready to work with the government and the health system to achieve this goal.
