Who you are and where you live affects your likelihood of getting, and surviving, cancer

Disadvantaged people are three times more likely to smoke tobacco than the most advantaged, and more likely to be obese. Photo: Getty

As part of a series on cycles of disadvantage, supported by a philanthropic grant from the Paul Ramsay Foundation, we’re publishing three articles on the social determinants of health. They look at how factors like income, where you live and your background affect your risk for cancer, dementia and heart disease.

In Australia, the likelihood of living for at least five years after being diagnosed with cancer has risen from 51 per cent to 70 per cent over the past 30 years.