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CANCER IN SCOTLAND: ACTION FOR CHANGE

01. CANCER IN SCOTLAND - WHERE WE ARE NOW

INCIDENCE

CANCER IS NOW THE LEADING CAUSE OF PREMATURE DEATH AMONGST SCOTS, HAVING OVERTAKEN HEART DISEASE. IN 1999, 14,740 SCOTS DIED OF CANCER.

Every year, about 26,000 Scots are told that they have cancer, and this number continues to rise each year. Lung cancer is the most common cause of death from cancer in Scotland, having overtaken breast cancer as the leading cause of death among women. The most frequently diagnosed cancers in men and women are shown in figures 1 and 2.

Since the national cancer registration system began in 1959 records show that the total number of new cases of cancer diagnosed in Scotland has increased in every year. This is largely due to the ageing of the population. Four examples are shown in figure 3.

The Scottish Cancer Registry is internationally recognised as among the most complete in the world. The information collected is vital if we are to monitor progress in meeting the challenges ahead. The benefits to public health and patient care are dependent on the integrity of the cancer registration system and we are determined to maintain it for the future.

Breast cancer rates increased steadily until the late 1980s when earlier diagnosis of some breast tumours through the Scottish Breast Screening Programme caused an apparent sharp increase in incidence as women aged 50-64 were screened for the first time.

By contrast, and due to a substantial reduction in smoking since the 1950s, lung cancer in men has decreased by some 33% since the early 1980s. The incidence of lung cancer is expected to continue to rise at least until the middle of the current decade. The incidences of ovarian and colorectal cancers have also increased since the mid-1970s.

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