Awareness could eliminate inequalities in cancer diagnoses

There are substantial inequalities in the stage at which cancer patients receive their diagnosis – a critical factor for cancer survival – a new study by the University of Cambridge reveals.  The researchers found that age, sex and income as well as the type of cancer influenced the risk of a patient being diagnosed at an advanced stage of the disease. Eliminating these inequalities would help improve the chances of a cure for up to 5,600 patients with seven common cancers each year.  The research was published this week in the Annals of Oncology.
 
The scientists studied ten common types of cancer responsible for two-thirds of all new cancer diagnoses in England. They found that 5,600 patients with seven common cancers each year are diagnosed at a late stage of their illness because of inequalities.
 
Narrowing social differences in stage at diagnosis could benefit 2000 men with prostate cancer, 1300 patients with lung cancer, 1000 women with breast cancer and 700 patients with melanoma, who are currently diagnosed in advanced stage because of inequalities. There are also important potential gains for patients with three rarer cancers (endometrial, kidney and bladder cancer).  During the study period, 2006-2010, there were no notable social inequalities in the risk of advanced stage at diagnosis for patients with bowel (colon or rectal) cancer and women with ovarian cancer.
 
The research shows that one out of every nine patients with these seven cancers who are currently diagnosed in advanced stage could be diagnosed at an earlier stage.  Most of the improvements seem to be achievable by better educating people about symptoms and signs of potential cancer that should prompt a consultation with a doctor.


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Image: Cancer
Flickr from GE Healthcare

Reproduced courtesy of the University of Cambridge
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