Cancer Survival Trends in England and Wales
Author Information
Author(s): Rachet B, Woods L M, Mitry E, Riga M, Cooper N, Quinn M J, Steward J, Brenner H, Estève J, Sullivan R, Coleman M P
Primary Institution: Cancer Research UK Cancer Survival Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Hypothesis
How have cancer survival rates and socioeconomic inequalities in survival changed in England and Wales from 1986 to 2001?
Conclusion
Cancer survival has improved for adults in England and Wales, but socioeconomic inequalities in survival have persisted or widened.
Supporting Evidence
- Survival rates for many common cancers have increased since the 1970s.
- Socioeconomic inequalities in cancer survival have persisted or widened over time.
- Children do not show the same deprivation gap in survival as adults.
- Data from 2.2 million cancer patients were analyzed to assess survival trends.
Takeaway
More people are surviving cancer in England and Wales, but those from poorer areas are still not doing as well as those from richer areas.
Methodology
The study analyzed cancer registration data for adults diagnosed between 1986 and 1999, focusing on survival trends and socioeconomic disparities.
Potential Biases
Potential biases may arise from the ecological measures of deprivation used to categorize patients.
Limitations
The study may not account for all individual factors affecting survival, such as comorbidity and access to treatment.
Participant Demographics
The study included adults aged 15 years and older diagnosed with one of twenty common malignancies.
Statistical Information
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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