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People living in the United Kingdom's most deprived areas have nearly 60% higher cancer death rates than those in wealthier regions, according to a report from Cancer Research UK (CRUK).

The study, Cancer in the UK 2025: Socioeconomic deprivation, found that 28,400 cancer deaths each year in the United Kingdom were linked to deprivation. Late diagnoses and preventable risk factors, such as smoking, were key contributors to these deaths.

Since CRUK's last analysis in 2020, "little has changed in progress towards tackling cancer inequalities," commented Naser Turabi, the charity's director of Evidence and Implementation, in a foreword to the report.

"Stark differences between the most and least deprived continue to be seen across the cancer pathway, from prevalence of risk factors, cancer diagnosis, through to survival and mortality," Turabi noted. "Depressingly, cancer-related deaths are almost 60% higher in the most deprived areas of the UK than in the least deprived."

Long Waits, Late Diagnosis, Less Effective Treatment

The report found that, across all cancers, mortality rates were almost 1.6 times higher in the most deprived areas than in the least deprived areas. Around a 10th of all UK cancer diagnoses were linked to deprivation, often due to preventable factors. Smoking rates in the poorest areas were nearly four times higher than in wealthier regions, while obesity rates were nearly double.

Lung cancer accounted for almost half (47%) of the additional deaths. The death rate was nearly three times higher in deprived areas, and the “deprivation gap" in lung cancer outcomes has widened.

The report also highlighted disparities within cancer care, with people living in poorer areas more likely to be diagnosed late and offered less effective treatments. Researchers found that patients in England's most deprived areas were up to a third more likely to wait over 104 days for treatment after an urgent referral. They were also more likely to be diagnosed at the latest stage.

Gaps in Screening

Cancer screening participation was significantly lower in deprived communities. For example, bowel cancer screening rates were around 25% lower in England's poorest areas.

More than half of patients with cancer in deprived areas were diagnosed after presenting with emergency symptoms. They were also half as likely to receive cutting-edge treatments for advanced lung cancer.

The government's national cancer plan for England aims for 75% of urgently referred patients to receive a diagnosis or have cancer ruled out within 28 days. It also sets a goal for 96% of patients to begin treatment within 31 days of a decision to treat.

Call for Action

"People from more deprived areas are being diagnosed too late," commented Ian Walker, CRUK's executive director of Policy and Information. "Improving access to NHS services through funding and innovation will be vital so that those who seek help get the care they deserve," he added in a statement.

Karis Betts, CRUK's Inequalities Programme lead, stressed the need for targeted interventions. "Sustainably funding support to help people stop smoking will avoid so many cancer cases in deprived areas," she said. "But we also need new and better ways to diagnose cancer at an early stage."

Walker added: "No one should be at a greater risk of dying from this devastating disease simply because of where they live. These figures are shocking and unacceptable — but crucially, they're avoidable."

Rob Hicks is a retired NHS doctor. A well-known TV and radio broadcaster, he has written three books and has regularly contributed to national newspapers, magazines, and online. He is based in the United Kingdom.