According to a new analysis by the Welsh Cancer Intelligence and Surveillance Unit at Public Health Wales (PHW), the rate of reduction in cancer mortality in Wales has decelerated.
The figures show that the age-adjusted cancer mortality rate in Wales fell by 5.4% during 2010-2017, compared with a 9.2% decline during the period before 2010. In women, the decline in cancer mortality rate was 3.7% from 2009 to 2017 vs 8.9% in the preceding period. In men, the decline was 6.1% after 2010 vs 12.5% in the preceding period. The age-adjusted cancer mortality rate in 2017 remained 40% higher in men vs women.
The trends in all-cancer death rate in Wales varied by age and socioeconomic background. Rates of cancer mortality increase swiftly with age, and the very elderly have considerably high mortality rates. However, individuals aged <75 years accounted for half of all cancer-related deaths. The slow-down in the reduction in cancer mortality was not seen in wealthiest areas of Wales, but the gap in cancer mortality rates between the least and most disadvantaged communities rose by more than 14% in 2013-2017 compared with 2001-2005.
Dr Tracey Cooper, Chief Executive of PHW said: "We are working with partners to understand and explore the root causes of these observed changes in the cancer and all-causes death rates."
