§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the causes of the regional differences in the incidence of prostate cancer in Great Britain. [89670]
§ Ms BlearsRates of prostate cancer per 100,000 population in 1999, broken down by region, are shown in the table.
Health regional office of residence Rate of prostate cancer per 100,000 population (1999) Northern and Yorkshire 82.3 Trent 70.0 Eastern 92.1 London 71.4 South East 93.9 South West 101.3 West Midlands 89.8 North West 80.3 England 84.9 Source:
Cancer statistics registrations: Registration of cancer diagnosed in 1999, England (Office for National Statistics 2002)
Prostate cancer is related to affluence. It is also possible that these figures reflect in part differential take-up of prostate specific antigen testing in different parts of the country.