Measures to prevent cancer would be cost-effective, suggests economic report

The UK is losing up to £11.6 billion each year in productivity due to lives cut short by cancer, and cross-governmental policies to prevent cancer would reduce increasing costs of the disease, according to a new report commissioned by Cancer Research UK.

To reduce this economic burden of cancer, and the burden of cancer on patients, researchers from the University of Leeds, who authored the report, have called for urgent and increased investment in cancer prevention and early diagnosis measures.

As the Government prepares to announce its national cancer plan this year, the Cost of Cancer report outlines several key recommendations. These include a stronger emphasis on prevention, early detection, better integration of palliative care, improved access to medical data and increased funding for research.

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The NHS is currently facing many budgetary constraints, which are made worse in cancer care by an ageing population and an expanding portfolio of new treatments. The cumulative global economic cost of cancer is projected to reach £19.6 trillion from 2020 to 2050, and yet in the UK, there is limited knowledge relating to the cost of cancer care.

The researchers identified nearly 20,000 studies examining the cost of cancer care in the UK. Of these, almost 50 were suitable for inclusion in the analysis and examined both the direct and indirect costs of cancer.

Preventing cancer is cost-effective approach

The report concludes that preventing cancer, where possible, is the most cost-effective approach. Expenditure on medical care and productivity losses contribute to these losses and could be reduced through effective messaging on preventive measures and early screening programmes. One study estimates that the cost of preventable cancers results in around £4.6bn in productivity losses each year in the UK.

The researchers emphasise the urgent need to shift from late-stage to early-stage cancer diagnosis. They highlight the success of the lung cancer screening programme, rolled out nationally by the Government in 2023, following initial trials in Leeds. The programme significantly reduced late-stage diagnosis, particularly in more socioeconomically deprived populations, showing the importance of expanding prevention initiatives and early diagnosis methods across all cancer types.

Lead author Dr Katie Spencer, Associate Professor and honorary consultant clinical oncologist in the School of Medicine at the University of Leeds, said: ‘This report shows that by increasing our focus on preventing cancer, or in some cases catching it early before it spreads, we can not only increase survival but also reduce costs. Strategies should focus on reducing smoking and addressing obesity as the main preventable risk factors for cancer.’

In addition, the researchers suggest that better integration of palliative care and cancer services would not only improve end-of-life care but also save money, as patients could be transitioned out of hospitals and into community and neighbourhood services.

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Government ‘can’t afford to wait’

Chief executive of Cancer Research UK, Michelle Mitchell, commented: ‘We know that cancer has an immeasurable impact on patients and their loved ones. But this report reveals there is also a clear and devastating economic cost. At a time of tight budgets and overstretched services, the Government can’t afford to wait any longer.

‘The upcoming national cancer plan is the opportunity to transform cancer care in England. Action to prevent more cancers, and diagnose them early, will help build a stronger, healthier economy, whilst giving people more moments with those they love.’

The researchers say that the limited research into the economic impact of cancer has ‘failed to capture the full range and extent of patient-borne costs’, particularly long-term employment-related income loss. Further research is needed to investigate the inequalities of how patterns of patient-experienced and NHS costs vary between people of different backgrounds.

The national cancer plan is expected later in 2025.

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Reference: Cancer Research UK. Cost of cancer in the UK. 2025