Dr Anthony Moran, Holger Moeller
North West Cancer Intelligence Service, Manchester, UK
We assessed the progress in cancer control in the elderly in the UK by comparing cancer mortality rates in the elderly and in younger age groups for the UK and other comparable countries.
Mortality data for the UK, USA and for ten European countries were obtained from the WHO mortality database. Age-specific cancer mortality rates were calculated for UK, USA, Western Europe and Northern Europe for all cancers combined and for breast cancer.
From 1995-97 to 2001-2003 the UK cancer mortality rates dropped by 17% for 55-64 years olds, 16% for 65-74, 6% for 75-84 but rose by 2% in the over 85s. Compared with the other three populations the UK had the second largest decrease in 55-64, largest in 65-74, second lowest in 75-84 and worst in 85 plus. UK rates for 2003-2005 were still the highest for all age groups except for those aged 55-64. From 1995-97 to 2003-05 breast cancer mortality rates in the UK dropped by 19% in 55-64, 20% in 65-74, 11% in 75-84 but rose by 5% in over 85s. The % decrease was the highest in the two younger age groups, the second highest in 75-84 and the worst for 85 plus. The UK had the highest mortality rates from breast cancer in all four age groups for 2003-2005; the biggest percentage differences were in the over 85s, ranging from 33% to 62%.
Little or no progress has been made over the last decade in decreasing cancer mortality rates in the elderly in the UK. The gap with other countries will be closed only if there is a marked decrease in death rates in the over 75s
