Scottish cancer death risk hits record low – despite increase in cases

The risk of dying from cancer in Scotland has reached a record low – even as the number of deaths from the disease have increased.

Based on a European measure, the mortality chance has dropped by 11 per cent over almost a decade, giving Scotland the lowest rate since this was first scored in 1998.

That’s despite an overall increase in cancer deaths over the period, with most of these affecting people aged 70 or above.

The findings come from Public Health Scotland and have been welcomed by health secretary Neil Gray.

However, cancer charities say the figures lay bare a health gap which reveals the cancer toll on the poorest Scots.

In 2022, incidence for all cancers was almost 24 per cent higher for the most deprived Scots than the wealthiest. Mortality rates were 78 per cent higher for the worst-off than their more affluent peers.

Peter Hastie of Macmillan Cancer Support said: “Today’s significant data releases in Scotland paint a deeply concerning picture and are further evidence that someone’s experience of cancer can be made much worse simply because of who you are or where you live.  

“Behind these figures are real people that represent individuals, families and communities whose lives have been impacted by cancer. The Scottish Government must ensure that cancer care is made an urgent priority now, not later.” 

Based on the European Standardised Rate, the risk of cancer death has gone from 333.7 to 296.8 per 100,000 people between 2013 and 2022.

There were 16,265 cancer deaths in 2022, including 8,455 males and 7,810 females. More than two-thirds of these cases involved people aged 70 and over.

Public Health Scotland attributed that to an ageing population and the fact that more people are living longer with the disease.

Lung, bowel, prostate and breast cancers accounted for almost half of all cancer deaths. 

Liver cancer death rates are up for both men and women, and almost half of these cases are said to be preventable through lifestyle changes like losing weight and reducing the use of cigarettes and alcohol, and the avoidance of viral liver infections.

Debbie King of Cancer Research UK said it is “unacceptable that where someone lives in Scotland can drastically increase their risk of developing cancer”, with lung cancer rates more than three times higher in the most deprived areas, compared with the best-off parts. She called for more action to tackling smoking.

Labour’s Jackie Baillie said the Scottish Government is “moving too slowly on its commitment to introduce lung cancer screening” and called the increase in the number of cancer deaths “deeply worrying”.

However, Gray called the drop in the overall risk rate “encouraging” and praised the “hard work of NHS staff”. He said: “We are determined to further improve cancer survival, reduce waiting times and provide excellent, equitably accessible care right across Scotland.

“We are taking action to improve the awareness and earlier diagnosis of cancers, including expanding our Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Services and our investment of more than £14m towards cancer waiting times this year. Reducing health inequalities is a clear ambition for this government. Cutting smoking rates is key to tackling lung cancer incidence in areas of deprivation – our world-leading tobacco control measures are helping us in our goal of a tobacco-free Scotland by 2034.”