3.b - cancer in UK Flashcards
Is there a pattern of life expectancy in the UK?
Higher life expectancy in south
women live longer
why is there a pattern of life expectancy in the UK?
places with higher deprivation and inequality have lower life expectancy
diet - cheaper to eat UPF that is high in fat, salt and sugar
exercise/lifestyle (especially in youth) (smoking)
education - about exercise/eating etc
healthcare - deprivation = demand/strain on services is greater
what stage of the ETM is the UK?
stage 4
AC
healthcare is good so CDs are pretty much gone
NCDs are more prevalent due to lifestyle etc. Lots of older people - diseases of aging pop are common
what lifestyle factors influence increased cancer risk? (CAUSES OF CANCER IN UK)
increased risks of cancer are associated with obesity, poor diet, lack of exercise, smoking and alcohol abuse
largely as a result of changing lifestyles, since the 1970s cancer rates in the cpUK have risen by 23% for men and 43% women
causes are often preventable
what impacts do sunbathing have?
sun beds indicate a cultural preference for a tanned look, despite the evident risks of skin cancer
opportunities for sunbathing have increased in the past 50 yrs, with growing wealth and the advent of affordable package holidays to destinations e.g. Mediterranean and florida
what is the impact of diet/alcohol consumption? (CAUSES OF CANCER IN UK)
wealth = changes in diet and preferences for meat and dairy products, fast food and prepacked ready meals
changes that are linked to an increase in bowel cancer
with higher incomes, alcohol consumption invariably increases, increasing the risk of oral, oesophageal and liver cancers.
what is the impact of exercise? (CAUSES OF CANCER IN UK)
lack of exercise and more sedentary lifestyles, together with changes in diet, have driven an epidemic of obesity in the UK and other ACs and increased risk of cancer and CVDs
what is the impact of smoking ? (CAUSES OF CANCER IN UK)
despite a decline in the popularity of smoking, it remains the biggest single cause of cancer among both men and women
nearly 1/5 of all cancer cases diagnosed each year are smoking related
what is cancer’s cost to the UK economy? (SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF CANCER)
2 mill people are living with cancer in the UK today, costing the UK economy £15 bill/yr due to early deaths, patients taking time off work, treatment on the NHS and the cost of unpaid care
what is cancer’s cost to the UK individual? (SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF CANCER)
avg cost to patients £570/monthly
includes loss of income, cost of medical appts/prescriptions and extra heating costs
what are the social negatives to the UK individual? (SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF CANCER)
cancer sufferers often experience social isolation,
anxiety resulting from loss of income and further physical as well as mental health problems
what is the link between inequality and cancer? (SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF CANCER)
deprivation increases the likelihood of smoking, alcohol consumption and obesity (all major causes of cancer)
in the UK, cancer rates in some of the poorest areas are 3x greater than most affluent
glasgow has the highest cancer rate of any UK health authority, and its no coincidence that in wider central scotland region over 1/2 the population lives in wards which are among 20% most deprived in UK.
the association between deprivation and cancer is also strongly enriched in former industrial areas.
what is the deprivation gap in survival rates? (SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF CANCER)
survival rates are also affected by socio-economic status
for all types of cancer there is a deprivation gap, with the more affluent having better survival chances than most deprived
for example, 14.2% more women in the “most affluent group” survive bladder cancer compared w/ their most deprived counterparts
this difference is largely explained by pre-existing health status and speed of diagnosis
how is the UK government tackling cancer?
direct strategies
indirect strategies
the govts targets in its fight against cancer are to save 50,000 lives/yr, increase survival rates and decrease the gap in survival rates that exists
how do investments in medical technology help the UK govt tackle cancer? (DIRECT STRATEGIES)
such as more precise forms of radiotherapy and diagnostic methods e.g. endoscopy for early diagnosis and intervention
mass screening for breast, cervical and bowel cancer is already well established and has proved highly effective
however survival rates could be improved further by decreasing waiting times between diagnosis and treatment and giving more support to GPs in referrals to consultations