197 Cancer Deaths a Year Put Bristol on the Map

Bristol has the highest death rates from cancer in the West, according to new figures.

In the city, 197 people per 100,000 die from the disease each year.

Cancer "hotspots" are shown on a new map that health bosses hope will enable them to target services where they are most needed.

The death rates are slightly lower in the rest of the region, with 172 people per 100,000 dying from cancer in Bath and North East Somerset, 169 people in South Gloucestershire and 167 in North Somerset.

The Cancer e-Atlas is based on figures released by the National Cancer Intelligence Network providing a breakdown of cancer incidence and mortality by local authority, as well as figures on survival for the most common cancers.

The figures show that lung cancer is the biggest cancer threat in Bristol, which also has the highest rates of incidence in the West, at 55 people per 100,000.

In South Gloucestershire, B&NES and North Somerset, the rates of lung cancer occurring range between 33 and 40 people per 100,000.

The amount of money set aside for cancer services in Bristol is pounds35.4 million, or pounds9,334 per patient – the highest spending on these services in the region.

Dr Angela Raffle is a consultant for public health for Bristol PCT and the Avon, Somerset and Wiltshire Cancer network.

She said the variations were caused by differences in affluence. She said: "We should be careful when looking at data that is just for three years because in another three years the hotspots may have moved.

"The biggest cause for these variations is the kind of people who live there, it is not that a particular place is more unhealthy to live in than another.

"More affluent people may get screening done privately or will see their doctor sooner, so there will be a higher incidence rate for that area.

"So cancer death rates are closer to the true picture and they will be higher in Bristol because a lot of deprivation is concentrated there. Bristol has a lot of people on low incomes and people who smoke and therefore have higher health problems.

"Smoking is the biggest factor in ill health and Bristol has high smoking rates, partly because of the Wills tobacco factory, which gave employees free cigarettes."

Dr Raffle said the maps would help health trusts target services more effectively. She said: "We would look at this data year on year and what is helpful about this map is that it is much more accessible to everyone. We aim for cancer services to be uniformly available to everyone, no matter where they live or how much money they have, and we target community groups to explain how they can access services. The cancer maps help us target where we run public health programmes."

Chris Carrigan, head of the National Cancer Intelligence Network, said: "Detailed regional data like this are vitally important in making sure the best and most appropriate decisions are made. This easy-to-use tool will benefit those in the healthcare profession, commissioners and patients alike, helping them make informed choices."

The atlas is free to access via the National Cancer Intelligence Network website at www.ncin.org.uk

(c) 2008 Evening Post (Bristol UK). Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.