London and Thames Valley have highest cancer survival rates in England
People living in London and the Thames Valley have the highest survival rates for cancer, according to figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
New data released for 2006-2008 reveals worrying geographical variations for how many people survive cancer for more than one and five years.
Earlier this year, Cancer Research UK revealed that that half of people in the UK should expect to suffer from cancer at some point in their lives.
Between 2006-2008, breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men were the most common forms in England.
These two cancers were also the ones with the highest net survival rates – with 95.2 per cent of women surviving breast cancer for one year, and 84 per cent of them surviving for five years.
Among men, 92.2 per cent survived prostate cancer for one year, while 79.4 per cent survived it for five years.
Lung cancer is the most deadly
The cancer with the lowest survival rate across England is lung cancer – with 30 per cent of patients surviving for one year and 8.9 per cent surviving for five years.
The ONS’s data reveals interesting regional variations in survival rates. England has Clinical Senates, for which the data is divided, which give commissioners and stakeholders independent advice and guidance.
Cheshire and Merseyside has the lowest cancer survival rate
Cheshire and Merseyside is the worst region to live in for survival rates of four of the eight cancers measured – bladder, lung, colon and oesophagus.
The East Midlands has the lowest survival rates for stomach, prostate and breast cancer, while Wessex – covering Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight – is worst for cervical cancer survival.
Stomach cancer has the greatest regional variation, with people living in Wessex having a net survival rate for one year of 46.3 per cent – 8.3 per cent higher than those living in the East Midlands.Breast cancer among women has the lowest regional variation, with just a 1.7 per cent difference between the net survival rates of the lowest, East Midlands, and the highest, Northern England.
Thames Valley and London have the best survival rates
When looking at the average survival rate across the eight cancers measured, Cheshire and Merseyside appears as the worst place to live in England.
The Thames Valley and London have the highest survival rates for one year – with people living in the Thames Valley being most likely to survive bladder, lung and cervical cancer for more than one year.