Cancer mortality rates are almost 75% higher in Scotland’s most deprived areas than they are in the most affluent, a report has revealed.
Health campaigners branded the situation “deeply concerning”, while opposition parties said the “shameful” statistics show there is “still a postcode lottery when it comes to surviving cancer in Scotland”.
The Public Health Scotland report said over the period 2020 to 2024, the cancer mortality European age standardised rate (EASR) was 74.4% higher in the most deprived areas.
In these communities, the EASR was 397.2 deaths per 100,000 people, compared to 227.7 per 100,000 in the least deprived areas.
While the EASR fell in the most and least deprived areas over the period 2015 to 2024, the decrease in the least deprived communities was larger.
No-one’s postcode or background should determine the care they receive or their chances of survival
The EASR in these areas fell 14.5% over the 10 years – from 259.4 deaths per 100,000 people to 221.8.
In the most deprived areas the drop was smaller, at 5.6%, with the EASR going from 418.1 deaths per 100,000 to 394.9.
The report warned: “This indicates a widening inequality in cancer mortality between deprivation groups.”
Across Scotland, the EASR for cancer deaths in 2024 was 288.9 per 100,000 people – down 12.1% compared to 2015.
Public Health Scotland said the higher mortality rate in the most deprived areas was “partly due” to people in these communities having a greater likelihood of developing cancers with lower survival rates, such as lung cancer.
Other factors were more people having other medical conditions which prevented them from receiving some more aggressive cancer treatments, as well as lower uptake for screening for breast, bowel and cervical cancer.
Peter Hastie, external affairs manager for Scotland at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “It is deeply concerning that too many people living in the most deprived areas of Scotland continue to experience poorer cancer outcomes.
“No-one’s postcode or background should determine the care they receive or their chances of survival. Everyone deserves the best possible cancer care, no matter who they are or where they live.
“To tackle these unfair inequities, all routinely published cancer data should include a breakdown for deprivation as standard.
“This would give a clearer picture of where people are getting left behind and help drive action to ensure everyone receives high-quality cancer care.”
Scottish Labour health spokeswoman Dame Jackie Baillie said it is “deeply worrying that those living in the most deprived parts of Scotland continue to face a greater risk of dying from cancer than those in the least deprived areas”.
She added: “It is shameful that little progress has been made by the SNP Government in the last 20 years to improve the situation.
“We urgently need targeted interventions to improve uptake of cancer screenings in the most deprived areas, alongside access to the latest advances in screening.
“There must also be work undertaken with clinicians and charities which sets out a comprehensive vision for cancer care, which includes how we improve screening services and waiting times.”
Scottish Conservative health spokesman Miles Briggs said: “These figures expose the stark reality that it is still a postcode lottery when it comes to surviving cancer in Scotland.
“Patients in our most deprived communities are being let down by years of SNP failure to tackle health inequalities, with progress on reducing cancer deaths lagging well behind that seen in more affluent areas.
“Instead of squandering ever more money into bureaucracy, ministers must get more resources to the frontline, expand early diagnosis and screening, and ensure patients receive treatment as quickly as possible.
“We also need cancer data to be routinely published with deprivation and ethnicity analysis so we can properly understand where inequalities exist and target support where it is needed most.
“Every patient deserves the same chance of surviving cancer, regardless of their postcode or background, and the SNP must finally outline a plan to close these unacceptable gaps in outcomes.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The risk of dying from cancer in Scotland is now at the lowest rate on record for men and women, falling by 12.1% over the past decade.
“This encouraging trend reflects earlier detection, more effective treatments and our continued investment in cancer services.
“While more people are being diagnosed with cancer due to our ageing population, survival outcomes are improving – with the average age at death from cancer rising steadily since 2000.
“We are supporting prevention, screening, earlier diagnosis and high quality treatment to help close the deprivation gap. This includes our Detect Cancer Earlier programme to reduce later stage disease, rapid cancer diagnostic services, and investment in tackling screening inequalities – to ensure everyone has equitable access to cancer care and support.”