London's Cancer Hot Spots

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Also Included In: Smoking / Quit Smoking
Article Date: 23 Nov 2007 - 1:00 PST

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A new study has found that Kingston is London's hot spot for skin, breast and prostate cancer.

It is one of the boroughs in the capital with the highest rates of all three types of cancer.

The Cancer Inequalities in London report by the Thames Cancer Registry reveals stark differences in cancer levels in different areas.

It shows the highest rates for skin cancer are in Kingston, Richmond & Twickenham, Sutton & Merton, Croydon and Havering.

Breast cancer rates are highest in Kingston, Richmond & Twickenham, Westminster, Bromley and Bexley, although the areas' death rates from the disease are low or average.

Prostate cancer affects a higher proportion of men in Kingston, Wandsworth, Lewisham, Lambeth, City & Hackney and Havering.

Dr Tim Crayford, president of the Association of Directors of Public Health and public health chief for Croydon, said: "The differences in society and affluence are reflected very clearly in diseases such as cancer."

Lung cancer among men is most prevalent in inner London, including Tower Hamlets, Southwark and Lambeth, as well as Isington, Greenwich and Barking & Dagenham.

Rates for women are highest in Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth, Newham, Islington, Barking & Dagenham and Greenwich.

The report's authors, Professor Henrik Muller and Dr Elizabeth Davies, senior lecturer at the registry said, "The more detailed investigation of the distribution confirms the continuing relationship between smoking-related cancers and deprivation."

http://www.ash.org.uk