HL Deb 19 May 1998 vol 589 cc161-4WA
Lord Morris of Manchester

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What information they have on the likely incidence of life-threatening breast cancer in women unscreened for the condition in the age groups 30–39, 40–49, 50–59, 60–69 and 70 and above; from what sources their information is drawn; and how much is spent on screening by each health authority. [HL1793]

What information they have on the likely incidence of life-threatening lung cancer in the age group 30–39, 40–49, 50–59, 60–69 and 70 and above; from what sources their information is drawn; and how much is spent on screening by each health authority. [HL1794]

What information they have on the likely incidence of life-threatening cervical cancer in women unscreened for the condition in the age groups 30–39, 40–49, 50–59, 60–69 and 70 and above; from what sources their information is drawn; and how much is spent on screening by each health authority. [HL1795]

What information they have on the incidence of potentially life-threatening urological tumours in males aged 30–39, 40–49, 50–59, 60–69 and 70 and above; from what sources their information is drawn; and how much is spent on screening by each health authority. [HL1796]

What information they have on the incidence of potentially life-threatening cancer of the bowel in the age groups 30–39, 40–49, 50–59, 60–69 and 70 and above; from what sources their information is drawn; and how much is spent on screening by each health authority.[HL1797]

What information they have on the incidence of potentially life-threatening cancer of the liver in the age groups 20–29, 30–39, 40–49, 50–59, 60–69 and 70 and above; from what sources their information is drawn; and how much is spent on screening by each health authority. [HL1831]

The Minister of State, Department of Health (Baroness Jay of Paddington)

Most cancers are diseases of older age. Of the cancers to which the noble Lord refers, only breast and cervical cancers are screened for nationally. In England these two screening programmes are estimated to cost respectively £35 million and £132 million each year. The National Screening Committee in England is currently considering the case for colorectal cancer screening. The age ranges for incidence in the various cancers is shown in the tables together with the source of the data.

All cancers are potentially life threatening. Although lung cancer usually develops slowly over many decades, 80 per cent. of patients die within one year of diagnosis. Similarly for pancreatic cancer, about 90 per cent. of patients die within one year. In contract, prostate cancer can be life-threatening, but many are slow growing and death occurs through other causes. Breast cancer frequently occurs in middle age for no understood reason and there is no known method of prevention, and the risk of a secondary cancer can continue for up to 20 years.

Cancer incidence, selected sites, England and Wales, 1992: Number of new cases and rate per 100,000 population
Lung cancer (ICD9 162)
Males Females
Number Rate Number Rate
30–39 71 1.9 67 1.8
40–49 844 18.6 448 12.9
50–59 2,534 95.9 1,108 41.7
60–69 7,464 316.6 3,835 139.9
70+ 14,042 852.0 6,986 194.8

Colorectal cancer (ICD9 153 & 154)
Males Females
Number Rate Number Rate
30–39 132 3.8 111 3.1
40–49 600 17.3 516 14.9
50–59 1,776 67.2 1,258 47.3
60–69 4,128 175.1 3,066 118.0
70+ 8,005 371.7 9,559 266.6

Breast cancer (female)* (ICD9 174) Cervical cancer*(ICD9 180)
Number Rate Number Rate
30–39 1,507 41.8 769 21.3
40–49 4,822 139.7 681 18.7
50–59 6,813 256.4 485 18.5
60–69 7,354 263.0 532 20.5
70+ 10,848 302.5 870 24.3

Prostate cancer (ICD9 185) Testicular cancer (ICD9 186)
Number Rate Number Rate
30–39 4 0.1 459 12.5
40–49 40 1.4 274 7.9
50–59 587 21.1 101 3.8
60–69 3,325 141.0 48 2.0
70+ 11,854 550.5 49 2.3

Cancer of the penis (ICD9 187)
Number Rate
30–39 8 0.2
40–49 41 1.2
50–59 55 2.1
60–69 76 3.2
70+ 169 7.8

Bladder cancer (males) (ICD9 188)
Number Rate
30–39 50 1.4
40–49 287 8.3
50–59 841 31.6
60–69 2,375 100.7
70+ 4,961 230.4

Kidney cancer (males) (ICD9 189)
Number Rate
30–39 57 1.5
40–49 208 6.0
50–59 441 16.7
60–69 790 33.5
70+ 1,199 55.7

Liver cancer (ICD9 155)
Males Females
Number Rate Number Rate
30–39 10 0.3 9 0.2
40–49 33 1.0 21 0.8
50–59 128 4.8 45 1.5
60–69 259 11.0 129 5.0
70+ 451 20.9 336 9.4
* All women, i.e. both screened and unscreened.

Source:

Registrations of cancer diagnosed in 1992, England and Wales, Monitor MB1 97/1, ONS, 1997.

Cancer incidence in Scotland 1996 Numbers of new cases
Age group
ICD 30 to 39 40 to 49 50 to 59 60 to 69 70+
Males
162 Lung 10 71 362 805 1,308
185 Prostate 0 8 116 488 1,135
186 Testes 69 27 10 5 4
187 Penis 1 6 13 10 17
188 Bladder 5 33 96 245 492
189 Kidney 5 28 48 97 149
153 to 154 Bowel 15 69 231 478 917
155 Liver 1 5 14 41 50
Females
174 Breast 161 513 781 711 933
180 Cervical 74 85 53 51 86
182 Lung 8 97 180 551 965
188 Bladder 5 11 37 101 282
189 Kidney 3 14 26 67 110
153 to 154 Bowel 14 78 167 351 1,015
155 Liver 0 4 12 16 50

Note:

There were no new reported cases of cancer of the liver in the 20 to 29 age group.

Source:

Information and Statistics Division—National Health Service in Scotland.

Cancer incidence in Northern Ireland 1995 (provisional) Number of new cases
Age group
30 to 39 40 to 49 50 to 59 60 to 69 70+
Breast 18 79 164 203 408
Lung 2 35 114 251 343
Cervical 6 17 10 7 23
Urological in Males 1 4 28 77 382
Bowel 6 82 192 303 930
Liver 1 3 5 17 37

Note 1:

"Urological in males" refers to kidney, prostate and bladder cancers.

Note 2:

"Bowel" refers to colon, colorectal and rectal cancers.

Source:

Northern Ireland Registry.