From gender to race: how cancer inequality is being tackled across the UK

A study found black people were less likely to receive their cancer diagnosis through screening than white people – which may mean cancer is diagnosed at a later stage Photograph: CRUK

Since the 1970s, cancer survival has doubled in the UK, but who gets and survives cancer can be impacted by who you are and where you live. This is part of a bigger picture in which health inequalities are getting worse and the gap between the richest and poorest areas in the UK continues to widen. Life expectancy, for instance, sits consistently below average in the least wealthy areas.

It is estimated that there are more than 33,000 extra cases of cancer in the UK each year associated with deprivation. Investigations by Cancer Research UK have recently revealed useful insights about this disparity – as well as initiatives to remedy it, such as how to boost diversity among clinical trial participants so data exists on a more representative spectrum of the population, and how to encourage a broader uptake of cancer screening among diverse socioeconomic groups. Cancer Research UK is campaigning for all of this, which is possible thanks to their supporters. A third of the charity’s funds come from gifts in wills to work towards a greater understanding of the disease and help reduce inequalities across the different areas and services.