A Reminder of Scottish Cancer Challenges

Last month the Office for National Statistics published the latest figures for cancer incidence and mortality in the UK during 2006-2008. The mortality statistics for Scotland compared to the rest of the UK, serve as a reminder of the challenges for change that face Scottish society. Scotland had the:

• Highest cancer incidence rates for females in the UK
• Highest overall cancer mortality rates (14 % higher for males and 13 % higher for females than those for the UK as a whole).
• Highest incidence of lung cancer ( 25 % higher for males, 33 % higher for females than in the UK as a whole)
• Highest mortality rate for lung cancer (25% higher for males, 32% higher for females

However, incidence of prostate cancer was 13 % lower in Scotland than in the UK as a whole, but mortality rate from prostate cancer was comparable with the figure from the UK Report.

Office for National Statistics Cancer incidence and mortality in the UK, 2006-2008 (2011) Available at: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/cancer-unit/cancer-incidence-and-mortality/2006-2008/index.html.