A new report from Cancer Research UK has highlighted stark health inequalities in Wales, revealing that cancer death rates are nearly 50% higher in the most deprived areas compared to more affluent regions.
The findings, published in Cancer in the UK 2025: Socioeconomic Deprivation, estimate that around 1,400 additional cancer deaths occur each year due to socioeconomic factors—equating to four extra deaths per day.
The report identifies lung cancer as the leading cause of these additional deaths, with rates in deprived communities nearly two and a half times higher than in wealthier areas.
Smoking remains the biggest preventable cause of cancer in Wales, with smoking rates in the poorest areas almost three times higher than in the least deprived regions.
Cancer Research UK warns that without urgent intervention, the gap in cancer survival rates will continue to widen, disproportionately affecting low-income communities.
To combat rising cancer rates, Cancer Research UK is urging the Welsh Government to support the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which proposes increasing the legal age for purchasing tobacco. If passed, the law would make it illegal to sell tobacco to anyone born after 1st January 2009, aiming to create a smoke-free generation.
Simon Scheeres, Cancer Research UK’s Public Affairs Manager in Wales, stressed that urgent action is needed, calling the proposed legislation one of the most impactful public health measures in living memory.
The report also highlights the need for targeted lung cancer screening, which has been recommended by the UK National Screening Committee for high-risk individuals aged 55-74 who currently smoke or have a history of smoking.
While England has already begun rolling out lung cancer screening, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland have yet to implement a programme. The Welsh Government has commissioned Public Health Wales to assess how a screening programme could be introduced, but Cancer Research UK is calling for immediate action to prevent further avoidable deaths.
Scheeres emphasised that early detection is crucial, as lung cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage when treatment options are more limited.
Trials have consistently proven that lung cancer screening improves survival rates, making its introduction in Wales a critical step in tackling health inequalities.
The Welsh Conservatives described the report’s findings as “deeply saddening”, blaming delays in NHS cancer treatment for worsening outcomes.
Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, James Evans, criticised the Labour-led Welsh Government, noting that only half of cancer patients begin treatment within the target timeframe, a factor that could be contributing to higher mortality rates.
Evans called for improved cross-border NHS cooperation to increase capacity in cancer care and urged the government to develop a long-term workforce plan to address chronic NHS staffing shortages.
A Welsh Government spokesperson defended ongoing efforts to tackle health inequalities, pointing to existing anti-smoking initiatives, stricter regulations on smoking in public spaces, and investments in programmes promoting healthy living.
They reaffirmed their commitment to making Wales smoke-free by 2030 and stated that lung screening is under active review.
