prostate-report.org

Men from deprived areas less likely to be treated for prostate cancer

Researchers at the University of Cambridge suggests men living in deprived areas are far less likely to be treated with the most common types of radical treatment for prostate cancer than those in more affluent places.

The researchers found that either radiotherapy or surgery was used more often in the most affluent people. The proportion of patients treated by surgery increased significantly over time from 2.9% during 1995-7 to 8.4% during 2004-6. Use of radiotherapy for patients remained stable at around 25% throughout the study period. Radiotherapy was used for the most affluent people in 28.5% of cases, compared with 21% of people from the most deprived areas – a 26% difference. Similarly, surgery was used for 8.4% of the better off people, compared with just 4% of the worse off patients – a 52% difference.

The study was published on bmj.com today.