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People dying early due to cancer costs the UK economy £10.3 billion every year, according to the most comprehensive analysis of its kind.

Researchers from Cancer Research UK calculated the number of working years lost to the disease, alongside people’s expected economic output in that time. They found that cancer deaths among young adults aged 25 to 49 are having a significant effect on overall economic output, costing the economy £3.2 billion every year.

When it comes to cancer type, lung cancer accounts for the biggest overall earning loss to the economy of £1.7 billion a year, with 54,000 total productive years of life lost.

Bowel cancer accounts for £1.2 billion with 39,000 years lost, while brain cancer accounts for £0.75 billion and 26,000 years, and pancreatic cancer £0.61 billion and 20,000 years.

The figures relate to lost earnings and do not include carer costs for looking after people with cancer or the cost of diagnosing or treating the disease.

Call for Prevention and Early Diagnosis

In an accompanying report, Cancer Research UK said improving cancer survival and catching the disease early could boost economic growth.

In his foreword to the study, executive director of policy Ian Walker argued that “cancer isn’t just a health challenge, but also an economic one”.

He added: “Current evidence shows that focusing on prevention and early detection and diagnosis is both the right thing to do for people affected by cancer, and the smart thing to do in economic terms.”

Overall, each individual adult cancer death was found to cost an average of £61,000 to the economy. 

In 2023, some 119,000 years were taken from the future working lives of adults under 50, amounting to £3.2 billion in lost output.

In the future, losses could grow even more as cancer cases and deaths are projected to rise, with half a million cases diagnosed every year by 2040.

Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: “At a time of tight budgets and overstretched services, the UK government can’t afford to wait any longer. The upcoming national cancer plan is an opportunity to transform cancer survival in England.”

Policy Recommendations

As part of its plan, Cancer Research UK wants the government to take further action on smoking, obesity, and alcohol, all of which contribute to cancer. It also wants to see earlier diagnosis, including fully rolling out lung screening across England, and prioritising research.

Annalisa Belloni, lead economist at Cancer Research UK, said: “Dedicating energy and resources to tackling this disease shouldn’t be seen as a cost – it’s a necessary investment.”

The Department of Health and Social Care has been contacted for comment.