Tag: Cancer Research UK

“Exciting” drug study could detect unrecognised cancer symptoms earlier

An innovative new study, funded by Cancer Research UK, aims to identify patients with early signs of cancer through medications they are prescribed before they are diagnosed with the disease.

It’s hoped the project could help identify various cancers at an early stage when treatment is more likely to be effective.

A team of researchers including Professor Chris Cardwell, Professor Carmel Hughes, Dr Sarah Baxter, Dr David Wright and Dr Blánaid Hicks of Queen’s University Belfast with Professor Peter Murchie of the University of Aberdeen, will study extensive anonymised medical information to identify treatments given to people who are then diagnosed with cancer.

The research will be the first of its kind to study prescription information comprehensively in the UK. Similar studies have been carried out overseas and smaller studies conducted looking at fewer cancer types in the UK.

Previous studies have already shown increased use of pain and indigestion medication in women with ovarian cancer up to eight months before diagnosis and increases in haemorrhoid treatments in patients with colorectal cancer up to 15 months before diagnosis.

Professor Chris Cardwell, of Queen’s University Belfast, said: “Our study has the potential to identify previously unrecognised medications which are newly used in the period up to two years before cancer diagnosis.

“These changes in specific medications could act as an alert for doctors to consider earlier cancer investigation or point to unrecognised symptom patterns.

“Diagnosing cancer as early as possible is key to ensuring treatment is as effective as possible and give patients the best chance of recovery.”

The study, which will receive £76,462 from Cancer Research UK, will focus on eight cancers: multiple myeloma, pancreatic, stomach, ovarian, lung, renal, colorectal and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma – selected because these cancers are known to involve more GP consultations prior to diagnosis.

Currently, there are many symptoms and medical conditions known to be associated with cancer, but often symptoms can indicate a variety of conditions, not just cancer, making diagnosis harder.

Professor Peter Murchie, of the University of Aberdeen, said: “This is an exciting study which we hope will show how our increasingly sophisticated health records can be used for the maximum patient benefit.

“We know symptoms of cancer can develop slowly so changes in our prescription data could become a very important early warning signal to prompt busy GPs.”

Prescription data from the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) Databank at Swansea University, which works with the NHS to provide crucial information for researchers while keeping data anonymous and protected, will be used.

This requires permission from the Databank’s Information Governance Review Panel which oversees the safe and responsible use of population health records.

Codes used in the NHS to indicate medication prescriptions are easier to analyse and track than symptoms, for example an increase in dose or stronger medication can be flagged more easily to medical colleagues than notes on a patient’s record saying a symptom is worsening.

Cancer Research UK Director of Research, Dr Catherine Elliott, said: “Innovative approaches to tackling cancer are crucial to improving outcomes for patients. We have already made great strides in turning many types of cancer into a treatable disease if diagnosed at an early stage, and studies like this aim to help doctors identify people at risk of cancer much earlier.

“Earlier diagnosis takes us further along the path towards a world where cancer diagnosis is the start of the road to recovery and a less fearful prospect for patients.”

Nearly one in two people born in the UK will get cancer in their lifetime.*

With around 10,300 people being diagnosed with cancer each year in Northern Ireland (385,000 across the UK) finding new ways to diagnose cancer earlier, is vital.**

Business leader who overcame cancer TWICE chosen as Guest of Honour at Race For Life Edinburgh

An inspirational business leader who overcame cancer twice launched Race for Life in Scotland’s capital.

Gail Izat was guest of honour at Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, sounding the starter horn to send around 1,300 participants on the courses at Holyrood Park, Edinburgh. She was cheered on by her colleagues from Standard Life, part of Phoenix Group and headline sponsors for Race for Life.

More than £201,300 was raised at Race for Life Edinburgh – vital funds which will enable scientists to find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer – to bring about a world where everybody lives longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.

Every year, around 34,600 people are diagnosed with cancer in Scotland.

Gail, who is Standard Life Managing Director (workplace & retail intermediary), was diagnosed with breast cancer in August 2019, just two months after celebrating her 50th birthday.

It was a shock when the disease returned days before Christmas in 2022. Now in remission, mum of two Gail has vowed to do everything she can to help give others more tomorrows with their loved ones.

Gail, from Edinburgh said: “I’ve had cancer twice but I’ve got through it twice thanks to life-saving science.

“When you’ve had cancer suddenly you realise you’re not immortal and actually you have something that might kill you. At first having cancer felt like being admitted to a secret club I didn’t want to belong to. I felt strongly that I didn’t even want to talk to people about cancer until I found out more information about what I was actually facing, until I knew it was curable.

“But as time went on I started to believe I was going to get through the disease. And as I’ve recovered, I’ve found events like Race for Life offer a chance to meet people whose lives have also been touched by cancer. It offers a wonderful support and a sense of community.”

Over the last 50 years, Cancer Research UK’s work has helped double breast cancer survival in the UK.

Race for Life Edinburgh included a 360 degree photobooth, provided by headline sponsor Standard Life, where participants were able to receive a digital copy of a photo as a reminder of the day. Standard Life fielded a team of 30 staff who completed Race for Life Edinburgh. 

A group of 17 pupils aged between nine to 26 from the award winning Sarah Hendry School of Dance in Glenrothes entertained the crowds with Highland Dance moves. Sharon Holgarth from Event Buddies Scotland was at the picnic area offering face painting and a stilt walker circulated to chat to supporters.

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, in partnership with headline sponsor Standard Life, part of Phoenix Group, is an inspiring series of 3k, 5k, 10k, Pretty Muddy and Pretty Muddy Kids events which raise millions of pounds every year to help beat cancer by funding crucial research.  

Now organisers are sending a heartfelt message of thanks to everyone who put their best feet forward as well as their supporters. And they’re appealing for people to make every step count by paying in sponsorship money as soon as possible. 

        

Linda Summerhayes, Cancer Research UK’s spokeswoman in Scotland, said: “We are incredibly grateful to everyone who took part in Race for Life Edinburgh. 

“No matter how cancer affects us, life is worth racing for. Sadly nearly 1 in 2 of us will get cancer in our lifetime but all of us can support the research that will beat it.

“We’re proud that Race for Life has had such a positive impact. Every pound raised supports our life-saving work, which has helped double cancer survival in the UK over the last 50 years.  

 “It was a fantastic day at Race for Life Edinburgh, full of emotion, courage, tears, laughter and hope as people celebrated the lives of those dear to them who have survived cancer and remembered loved ones lost to the disease.      

“Now we’re asking everyone who took part to return the money they’re raised as soon as possible. Every donation, every pound raised will make a real difference.”

Since it began in 1994, more than 10 million people have taken part in Race for Life, contributing millions of pounds towards life-saving research.  

Cancer Research UK funded scientists led the development of the Human Papillomavirus Virus vaccine, which is expected to prevent almost 90 per cent of cervical cancers in the UK. The charity was a key player in the development of radiotherapy which now benefits millions of cancer patients worldwide.

Cancer Research UK played a leading role in the development of abiraterone – a drug that gives men with advanced prostate cancer more time with their friends and family.  

Andy Curran, Chief Executive of Standard Life, part of Phoenix Group, said: “We are incredibly proud to continue as headline sponsor for Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, with the opportunity to encourage participation across the country. 

“By working to raise funds for life-saving research, we can move towards a future where people live longer and better lives, free from the fear of cancer.”  

 To enter, visit raceforlife.org       

Gail Izat’s story

Gail Izat is in remission from triple negative breast cancer.

Around 15 per cent of people diagnosed with the disease have this type of breast cancer. Triple negative breast cancers are cancers whose cells don’t have receptors to the hormones oestrogen and progesterone or a protein called Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER 2).

This means doctors cannot use targeted hormone therapies or drugs that specifically target those receptors, leaving chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy as the main treatment options.

On October 1 2019, Gail had day surgery to remove the tumour and she started chemotherapy treatment on November 30 2019. Gail had eight sessions of chemotherapy in total. After the side effects of treatment meant she lost her long dark hair, her husband Bill McGeoch and their sons, Rory, now 21, and Euan, 19, also shaved their heads in solidarity.

In the spring of 2020 as the UK went in to lockdown due to the COVID 19 pandemic, Gail started six sessions of radiotherapy. Treatment was complete by the end of April 2020. Gail steadily recovered and was monitored closely over the next two years.

But in December 2022, the results of her annual mammogram stopped her in her tracks. Gail said: “After I’d had cancer for the first time I couldn’t fully shake off a sense of dread that it might return.

“I’d had a busy few days at work and I remember an O131 Edinburgh number kept coming through to my mobile phone as a missed call. Eventually the hospital left a voicemail asking me to call.

“The doctors had found something and I had to go in the next day for urgent tests. I had cancer again.”

That Christmas was difficult for all the family. But it was a relief in January when tests showed the cancer had not spread. On February 23 2023 at St John’s Hospital, Livingston, Gail endured a 14 hour mastectomy surgery and reconstruction.

She was in the intensive care ward for several days. Early in March, Gail had to return to hospital for seven days for more surgery due to complications.

Gail said: “It took me a good ten weeks to recover from the surgery and it was actually harder than all the treatment I’d had previously. But I was lucky. They’d caught the cancer early and I got through it thanks to the amazing support I had from my family and my colleagues at work.”

Gail had six months of daily chemotherapy tablets which she completed in October 2023. She now has an annual mammogram and a CT scan every six months. She keeps fit by walking every day with the family pet labradoodle, Poppy.

Gail said: “It’s important to live for the moment but also to think of the future. I feel passionate about Standard Life’s work as we make a positive difference.

“We support people to think about how they can be kind to their future selves by pension planning and through long term savings.”

Clothing choices may influence where skin cancer develops

  • In Scotland, 38% of melanomas in men are found on the torso and 36% in women are found on lower limb, according to new analysis from Cancer Research UK.  
  • Melanoma skin cancer cases expected to rise again this year, with a projected 1,800 cases in Scotland in 2025. 
  • Cancer Research UK urges people to stay safe in the sun as the weather gets warmer, and to go to their doctor if they notice any unusual changes to their skin. 

New analysis by Cancer Research UK suggests that clothing choices may influence where skin cancer develops.

The latest data for Scotland (from 2018-2021) shows that 38% of melanomas in men were diagnosed on the torso (back, chest and stomach) – more than any other part of the body. This translates to around 280 cases every year.  

However, in women, the most common location is the lower limbs (from the hips to the feet) – with more than a third of cases (36%) diagnosed here – around 270 cases every year.   

The charity says people’s behaviours in the sun, like what they wear or how much sunscreen they use, could be influencing where skin cancer develops on their bodies. For example, men might be tempted to go without a shirt, while women might wear shorts or skirts as the weather gets warmer. Surface area could also be playing a role as men’s torsos are typically bigger than women’s and women’s legs take up a larger proportion of their body surface area. 

Although wearing less clothing in hot weather can help people stay cool, it also means that more skin is exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays, which can damage the DNA in cells and cause skin cancer.  

In fact, 81% of melanoma cases in Scotland – that’s around 1,300 each year – are caused by overexposure to UV radiation, which is why it’s so vital to take steps to stay safe while enjoying the sun and avoid using sunbeds.** 

Fiona Osgun, head of health information at Cancer Research UK, said: “As the weather gets warmer, it’s really important to look after yourself in the sun.

“Getting sunburnt just once every couple of years can triple your risk of melanoma skin cancer, compared to never being burnt.

“And it’s not just the hot, sunny days you need to watch out for – UV rays can be strong enough to cause skin damage between mid-March and mid-October in the UK, even when it’s cloudy or cool. 

“That’s why we encourage people across Scotland to take some simple steps to stay safe. Try to stick to the shade between 11am and 3pm when the sun is strongest, wear clothes that help cover up your skin, with a hat and sunglasses, and use a sunscreen with at least SPF 30 and 4 or 5 stars. The key is to apply it generously – and remember to top it up regularly, especially if you’re sweating or in water.” 

Nearly 100 years ago, Cancer Research UK helped prove that UV radiation can cause skin cancer. Since then, the charity has learnt more about how skin cancer starts and spreads and is pioneering ways to prevent, detect and treat the disease. 

UK melanoma survival has doubled in the last 50 years and, today in Scotland, more than 9 in 10 adults diagnosed will survive their disease for five years or more. 

But rates continue to rise, with a projected 1,800 cases in Scotland in 2025 – the highest on record. Since the early 1990s, melanoma skin cancer rates have doubled in Scotland.

In women, rates have increased by almost three quarters and in men, they’ve increased by two and half times (157%).

Cancer Research UK’s chief executive, Michelle Mitchell, said: “Improvements in skin cancer survival rates highlight the remarkable progress driven by our research. But the growing number of people diagnosed with melanoma in Scotland is still concerning, especially when we can see that rates are rising faster in men. 

“If you notice anything different on your skin like a new mole, a mole that’s changed in size, shape, or colour, or any patch of skin that looks out of the ordinary – don’t ignore it, speak to your GP. We want to beat skin cancer for everyone, no matter who they are or where they’re from – early diagnosis is key and could make all the difference.” 

With the weather getting warmer, more people will head outside on high UV days, so Cancer Research UK and NIVEA Sun are – in partnership – urging the public to protect their skin and enjoy the sun safely.

When the sun is strong, they recommend three simple steps to reduce cancer risk:  

  • Spend time in the shade, especially between 11am and 3pm in the UK. 
  • Cover up with clothes, a wide-brimmed hat and UV-protection sunglasses 
  • Apply sunscreen with at least SPF 30 and 4 or 5 stars generously and regularly. 

For more tips and advice visit cruk.org/sunsafety 

MICHELLE HARRIS’ STORY 




Mum of two Michelle Harris understands the impact of a skin cancer diagnosis all too well. 

Complex needs teacher Michelle who was diagnosed with melanoma in November 2019 was on a family holiday to Finland when her husband Alistair Harris, 45, first flagged that a mole on her back had changed shape and was growing larger. Michelle had also noticed the mole had become itchy.

She visited her GP and was referred to University Hospital Monklands in Airdrie for tests which confirmed she had cancer. Breaking the news to her children Abby, 17, and Kaden, 13, was tough. 

Michelle, 38, of Motherwell said: “Cancer turns lives upside down, steals precious moments and affects far too many of us. 

“I was very matter of fact and open when I told the children I had cancer. I explained that doctors had told me it was stage 2b melanoma so they had got the cancer early. Although I had to go through an operation I was going to be okay. I just had to get on with things. It was good the NHS were there to look after me so well and my GP was fantastic.”   



Michelle had day surgery on 30 November 2019 to remove the mole as well as lymph nodes from under her arm. She recovered well but has regular check ups on other areas of her body where there are moles. 

Michelle said: “I think it’s really important to raise awareness about skin cancer. I have a lighter skin tone and I take extra care in the sun, make sure I’m covered up and I seek shade when the sun is at its strongest.” 

Cancer increasingly diagnosed in younger people to be tackled by £5.5m Scottish-led project

SCOTLAND TO LEAD NEW INTERNATIONAL CANCER “SUPERGROUP”

Cancer Research UK and partners today committed £5.5m to form a world-leading research team tasked with making personalised medicine a reality for people with bowel cancer. 

Led by Scottish scientists, the CRC-STARS initiative (Colorectal Cancer — Stratification of Therapies through Adaptive Responses), will bring together more than 40 bowel cancer experts to find new and kinder ways to tackle a cancer increasingly being diagnosed in younger people. 

Bowel cancer kills 16,800 people in the UK (1,700 in Scotland) every year and is increasingly being diagnosed in younger people.*A recent study by the American Cancer Society published in The Lancet Oncology  showed early-onset bowel cancer rates in adults aged 25-49 are rising in 27 of 50 countries studied and are rising faster in young women in Scotland and England than in young men.** 

Harnessing the expertise of researchers at universities and institutes across the UK, Spain, Italy and Belgium, the five-year project will aim to better understand how different bowel cancers respond to current treatments, why certain bowel cancers spread, and whether scientists can predict which treatments will work for individual patients.   

Led by Professor Owen Sansom of the Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute in Glasgow and University of Glasgow, along with co-leads Professor Jenny Seligmann of the University of Leeds and Professor Simon Leedham of the University of Oxford, this personalised medicine approach will see detailed information about an individual’s cancer – not just the area of the body where the cancer started – used to help inform decisions on diagnosis and treatment.

Personalised medicine is a growing area of cancer care and research. 

Director of the Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute and CRC-STARS co-lead, Professor Owen Sansom, said: “With more and more younger people being diagnosed with bowel cancer, it’s vital we remain vigilant and keep trying to understand new causes and new reasons for cancer. 

“Step by step, day by day, we’re discovering new ways to prevent, detect and treat bowel cancer and save lives, but there’s more to discover, and this new support from our funders will allow us to take bold steps towards better understanding bowel cancer and how to beat it.”   

Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in the UK.*** Despite this, treatment options remain limited, particularly for patients who are diagnosed at later stages of the disease. Scotland is disproportionately affected by the disease with around 4,000 people being diagnosed each year.

First Minister John Swinney, who visited the Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute today (Monday 31 March), said: “I very much welcome this multi-national research project and hope it will lead to more personalised care for people with bowel cancer. The fact it is being co-led by scientists in Glasgow is recognition of the expertise we have here in Scotland.

“With studies suggesting bowel cancer diagnoses rates are increasing for younger adults, it is vitally important to support research that will improve our understanding of how the disease progresses and develop new approaches to its treatment.”

Rectal cancer survivor Tracy Farrell, 53, from Glasgow welcomed the new investment into colorectal cancer. The fire service cook from Balornock was diagnosed aged 50  after seeing blood in her poo after going to the toilet.

She said: “It was the first time I’d had blood, I had no symptoms, no pain and my GP said because I was so young and had no family history of bowel cancer then she hoped it wouldn’t be that.

“There were no red flags for me so I was considered low priority but they were able to get me a colonoscopy within just three weeks due to a cancellation.

“They told me that day I had a tumour. I went from one day having nothing to the next day having cancer. I couldn’t even bring myself to say I had cancer. It was such a shock.

“At the time I was looking after my 14-year-old nephew Reece because his mother, my sister, had died from an aneurysm and I just thought he can’t lose me as well. He was like the baby I never had.”

Tracy was given chemotherapy and radiotherapy to shrink the tumour and the treatment worked so well she didn’t need surgery and now has been cancer free for three years.

She said: “I was lucky the cancer hadn’t spread and that it was caught early.”

With the support of her mum Kathleen, great friends and firefighter colleagues, Tracy is now doing well and nephew Reece is 18 and at college.

She took part in a research project by offering samples for scientists to study.

She said: “I found it a great help. It allowed me to have extra scans so we could see the treatment was working.

“But taking part in the study was amazing – to know you are helping them find out more about this disease so they can find new ways to tackle it feels very rewarding.”

The team will work on combining experimental, pre-clinical and clinical data to predict cancer progression and tailor new therapeutic approaches specific to each patient’s characteristics. It is hoped this work will the development of drug resistance and improve the response to treatments, such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy, hopefully improving outcomes for patients. 

Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK, Michelle Mitchell, said:  “For more than 100 years, Cancer Research UK-funded scientists have been working to beat bowel cancer, and this project is one of the most comprehensive for bowel cancer that we have ever supported.  

“Together with our funding partners – the Bowelbabe Fund, Bjorn and Inger Saven and the FCAECC – we can empower the CRC-STARS team to speed up the development of personalised treatment for people living with bowel cancer, bringing us closer to a world where people live longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.”  

The team will also build on the tools, resources and discoveries developed by existing bowel cancer research collaborations (e.g. ACRCelerate) and Cancer Research UK’s National Biomarker Centre and  analyse data from Cancer Research UK-supported colorectal cancer studies such as the FOxTROT, TREC and PRIME-RT clinical trials.***   

Scientific Director at the FCAECC, Dr Marta Puyol, said:  “This project will not only help us to better understand the landscape of bowel cancer in a collaborative and multidisciplinary manner but will also allow us to place a strong emphasis on patient needs, accelerating the translation of results into clinical practice.”  

Scottish pilot tackling hidden waiting list of people at risk of bowel cancer

A Cancer Research UK-funded scheme aims to tackle a waiting list of people at higher risk of developing bowel cancer.

The project, which aims to improve patient access to vital colonoscopies, has launched in the Scottish Borders and, if successful, could change NHS practice across the UK.

The initiative is part of a UK-wide programme from the charity, with additional support from the Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK, called Test, Evidence, Transition (TET) which aims to accelerate the adoption of best practice in the early diagnosis of bowel cancer.

Cancer waiting times in Scotland are currently amongst the worst on record. In April-June 2024, only 73 per cent of patients who were referred urgently with a suspicion of cancer started treatment within 62 days, with the Borders region performing above the national average at 77.9 per cent. This is still below the 95 per cent standard and nationally is the third worst performance on record since 2012.*

However, patients regarded as being at a higher risk of developing bowel cancer – usually because of pre-existing medical conditions are not covered by this target.

Instead, they are put on ‘surveillance’ lists because they need tests at regular intervals and do not have a current suspicion of cancer based on symptoms.

Stretched resources can mean those with symptoms of suspected cancer take priority, leaving some of those who may have a similar risk, waiting for long periods of time for a colonoscopy with no NHS target in place for them.

To tackle this issue NHS Borders, with the support of Cancer Research UK and research partners at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, has developed a new nurse-led surveillance pathway to improve access to colonoscopies.

Dr Jonathan Fletcher, Consultant Physician and NHS Borders Lead Clinician for the project, said: “With the support of Cancer Research UK and the Bowelbabe Fund, we are excited to be overhauling the colonoscopy follow up arrangements for Borders patients with a variety of conditions that increase their risk of colorectal cancer.

“There will be a range of benefits to patients and the endoscopy service that we hope to examine and measure with this initiative.”

A colonoscopy is a type of endoscopy, a non-surgical procedure using a flexible camera to examine the inside of the colon.

In the new pathway in the Borders, patients will receive a new reminder phone call 4-5 days prior to their colonoscopy appointment to reduce missed appointments and carry out a pre-assessment to note any changes in their health.

It will also offer services advising patients on steps they can take to reduce their risk of developing bowel cancer and will improve the use of IT systems to make management of the waiting list more efficient and effective.

Julieann Brennan, Strategic Lead and Board Coordinator for Public Health National Screening Programmes in Scotland, said: “This is an exciting opportunity to work with Cancer Research UK to improve access to our colonoscopy services, particularly for those who may be at higher risk of developing bowel cancer.

“We also want to make improvements in communications with those patients who may be at higher risk.”

TET is a major Cancer Research UK programme which aims to accelerate the adoption of innovation in the health system while reducing inequalities in access to best practice cancer care. Previously, the scheme has focused on reducing waiting times for people with suspected breast and prostate cancer.

Naser Turabi, Director of Evidence and Implementation at Cancer Research UK, said: “There is a relatively less well-known group of people who are at a higher risk of bowel cancer, waiting too long for crucial colonoscopy tests. It has no official target and so can get less attention and resource.

“We are delighted to support this exciting initiative undertaken by NHS Borders who are keen to reduce the wait and improve outcomes for patients in their region.

“If patients in this pilot scheme can be tested at the right frequency, we have a better chance of diagnosing cancer earlier, when treatment is much more likely to be successful. We hope the learning from this work will be adopted elsewhere in Scotland and across the UK.”

TET has received £2m from Cancer Research UK and the Bowelbabe Fund for projects across the UK, with each project delivered by local NHS teams in conjunction with academics to find new ways to improve both patient experience and cancer outcomes.

The Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK was created to continue the inspiring legacy of Dame Deborah James who was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2016 at the age of 35.

Launched in the last few weeks of her life and now stewarded by her family, together with Cancer Research UK it works to fund cutting-edge research, raise awareness of signs and symptoms of cancer with the aim of helping more people affected by cancer have more time with the people they love.

Cancer death rates 80% higher in the most deprived areas of Scotland

ACTION ON SMOKING URGENTLY NEEDED

Cancer death rates are around 80% higher for people living in the most deprived areas of Scotland compared to the least deprived, a new report from Cancer Research UK reveals.

The report, titled Cancer in the UK 2025: Socioeconomic Deprivation, found that there are around 4,300 extra cancer deaths in Scotland each year linked to socioeconomic inequality. This equates to 12 additional deaths each day – around a quarter of all deaths from cancer.

Almost half of these additional deaths are caused by lung cancer, where the death rate for the most deprived areas is almost three and a half times that of the least deprived areas of Scotland.  

More than a tenth of all cancer diagnoses in Scotland are linked to deprivation. Many of these cases are caused by preventable risk factors such as smoking.   

Smoking is the biggest cause of cancer in Scotland, and rates in the most deprived parts of the country are more than four times those in the least deprived. 

cancer_in_the_uk_2025_socioeconomic_deprivationDownload

In publishing the report, Cancer Research UK is calling for urgent action to tackle these stark inequalities. 

One vital opportunity to do so is the upcoming vote in Scotland for new legislation which will see an increase in the age of sale of tobacco. 

If MSPs vote for the new Tobacco and Vapes Bill, it would become illegal to sell tobacco to anyone born after 1st January 2009.  

This vote will pave the way for the Bill to become law in Scotland, as well as the rest of the UK. 

Dr Sorcha Hume, Cancer Research UK’s public affairs manager in Scotland, said: “Where you live shouldn’t increase your risk of dying from this devastating disease. These figures are shocking and unacceptable and crucially many of these cancer deaths are avoidable. 

“With almost half of the additional deaths being caused by lung cancer, it’s clear that action on smoking is needed urgently. 

“Smoking remains the leading cause of lung cancer, a disease that is often diagnosed late when treatment options are more limited. 

“One of the ways we can prevent lung cancer is to deter people from ever taking up smoking in the first place. 

“If MSPs vote in support of the age of sale legislation in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, it could be one of the most impactful public health interventions in living memory, helping people to live longer, better lives, no matter where they live in Scotland.” 

Introducing a lung cancer screening programme in Scotland would also help address these inequalities. 

The UK National Screening Committee has recommended that all UK nations move towards implementing a national lung cancer screening programme to target those considered to be of high risk of developing lung cancer – people aged between 55 and 74 who either smoke or used to smoke.  

A targeted lung screening programme is being introduced in England, but no such commitment has been made by the Scottish Government. 

If lung screening were to be introduced, around 400 extra cases each year in Scotland could be diagnosed at an early stage (stages 1 and 2) rather than a late stage (stages 3 and 4).

Dr Hume added: “Lung screening matters because it means more people can be diagnosed at an earlier stage, when treatment is more likely to be successful. 

“Research has consistently shown that lung screening is effective at reducing deaths from cancer so it’s essential a Scotland-wide programme is introduced here as soon as possible.” 

New Hope for Liver Cancer Patients

Study reveals drug combination can effectively tackle tumours

A discovery by Cancer Research UK-funded scientists in Scotland could finally offer hope to patients with a particularly hard to treat cancer.

Researchers found a new combination of drugs was able to almost completely eradicate hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common type of liver cancer.

Led by Professor Tom Bird of the University of Edinburgh and the Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute in Glasgow, the laboratory research focused on specific areas where genetic alterations can cause liver cancer to begin.

Cancer is often caused by a breakdown in DNA, our genetic blueprint, causing cells to grow in the wrong place or out of control.

This new study, published in Nature yesterday (Wednesday 19 February), was able to take these specific areas, where genetic instructions go wrong in people, and replicate them in mice creating genetic avatars which could be targeted with a range of treatments.

An existing cancer drug, commonly used to treat leukaemia and multiple sclerosis, was found by the team to be effective at targeting difficult to treat hepatocellular carcinoma tumours.

The drug, called cladribine, is from a group of drugs called antimetabolites. These interfere with DNA synthesis and stop the cancer cells in their tracks.

Funded by Cancer Research UK and Wellcome, the study found cladribine notably reduced the number of tumours but was most effective when combined with another drug called lenvatinib when almost all the tumours were completely eradicated.

Next steps would be to run a clinical trial over a period of years to confirm the results in liver patients over a long-term period.

Lead author on the study, Professor Tom Bird of the Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute and the Institute for Regeneration and Repair at the University of Edinburgh, said: “This exciting discovery provides new hope for the thousands of people living every day with a liver cancer diagnosis.

“Finding new and effective ways to combine and use treatments already approved for other cancers may be a faster way to achieve successful outcomes for future patients.

“Taking a precision approach to treatment by tailoring therapies to the particular types of tumours based upon their genetic alterations, has the potential to transform how we understand, and treat, cancer.”

There are around 6,600 new liver cancer cases in the UK every year, with around 630 in Scotland, and the number diagnosed is increasing.* Liver cancer incidence rates are also significantly higher in Scotland than the UK average.**

Less than half of those diagnosed with liver cancer in Scotland survive their disease for a year or more making finding new ways to tackle this disease vital.***

Survival across the UK varies, but in all cases, fewer than half of those diagnosed with liver cancer survive their disease for a year or more.****

Diagnosis of liver cancer is often late with many patients diagnosed only when already receiving treatment for existing diseases such as cirrhosis or fatty liver disease. Late diagnosis makes liver cancers hard to treat as, due to the function of the liver, the disease often responds poorly to chemotherapy drugs.

Cladribine helps to stimulate the body’s own immune system to clear tumours but had never been used for liver cancer before.

Cancer Research UK’s Science Engagement Lead, Dr Sam Godfrey, said: “We are delighted to have funded this exciting research which could lead to new treatments and improved outcomes for patients with liver cancer.

“Liver cancer is a difficult cancer problem – it’s the fastest rising cause of cancer death in the UK and it can be hard to diagnose it at an early stage when treatment can be more effective.

“That’s why research like this is so important – it lays the foundations for improved cancer treatment, driving us towards a time when no one fears cancer.”

This new research offers potential for broader and more complex treatment regimes, known as precision medicine, to treat patients for their individual liver cancers, improving their chances of successfully treating tumours.

This personalised medicine approach which aims to tailor treatments to specific patients is a growing area of cancer research.

John O’Donnell from Glasgow welcomed the new research. The 75-year-old was just about to leave for a three-month break in Spain when he was diagnosed with liver cancer two and a half years ago.

The retired health and safety manager was only referred for an ultrasound after a routine blood test for his type 2 diabetes showed an abnormality in his liver function.

John said: “They told me the GP had no real reason for referring me – I’m lucky she was so diligent as otherwise I would never have known.”

John was told he had an 8.5cm tumour on his liver and his hopes for his holiday, and his future, were put on hold.

He said: “The only advice my GP could give me was to get a power of attorney. I was told chemotherapy only has a 30 per cent chance of reducing liver cancer tumours and surgery wasn’t an option as the tumour was considered too big to operate.”

Fortunately, John who lives in Muirhead, was accepted onto a clinical trial for people with advanced liver cancer through the Cancer Research UK Experimental Cancer Medicines Unit led by Professor Jeff Evans.

After just a few months on a new immunotherapy drug combination, John’s tumour had reduced by 35 per cent and it’s now less than half the size with no change in a year.

John said: “I’m living with liver cancer and I feel perfectly well now treatment has finished.

“It was hard at times but I’m absolutely delighted with the result and I’m proud that I was able to contribute in a small way to helping find new ways to tackle liver cancer.

“There lots of exciting things happening in cancer research and I hear about it every time I am in for a check-up.

“I’ve been told that if the treatment I’m on stops working there are other options so I’m delighted to hear of new developments like this.”

John and his wife Jeanette, 73, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last year are now hoping to go on that holiday with a trip to France also planned soon.

He said: “I feel good, my wife has been a great support throughout, and the hospital said I can perhaps miss one check-up appointment so we can take that long holiday at last.”

Million pound milestone in Emily’s memory

A family which has raised more than a million pounds to fund a research project into the most aggressive type of brain tumour has unveiled a plaque at the University of Edinburgh laboratory where the work takes place. 

The Emily Morris Fund, set up in memory of a woman from London who died from a brain tumour aged just 31, was established in 2017 in collaboration with The Brain Tumour Charity. 

Emily’s father, Jack Morris, then became Chair of Trustees at the organisation.

Now he and his family have seen for themselves how their fundraising is helping to screen thousands of drugs to see if any have the potential to treat glioblastoma. 

The project is co-funded by Cancer Research UK and is believed to be the largest of its kind in the world: an unbiased screening of drugs in human glioblastoma cell models. 

Emily first became unwell with headaches and what doctors thought was a flu virus in 2015 when she was 29. 

Then her heart rate rocketed for no apparent reason and a cardiac specialist prescribed her medication but couldn’t find the underlying cause. 

When she began to experience a strange smell and taste up to 20 times a day, she was referred to an ear, nose and throat specialist who sent Emily for an MRI scan.  

Expecting nothing out of the ordinary, Emily went to find out the results on her own and was shocked when a consultant told her she had a brain tumour and needed urgent surgery. 

That craniotomy removed much of the tumour and confirmed it was a glioblastoma multiforme, one of the most aggressive and difficult to treat brain cancers. 

Emily’s treatment included 30 sessions of radiotherapy and nine rounds of chemotherapy, but the tumour returned. 

Emily’s father Jack said: “Emily had six months after her initial treatment where she did pretty well. Following that it was then a process of, as I used to say, trying hold back a tsunami.” 

In November/December 2016 Emily’s oncologist said she was fighting an uphill battle, and her family agreed that she should come home. 

Jack continued: “I had a moment that I’ll treasure for the rest of my life with Emily before she died. I was just sitting with her and at this time she couldn’t speak and I did a little wave and said ‘I love you’ and she just said to me ‘love you’. I don’t know how she found the words but they were the last words she ever said to me.” 

Emily died on 3 January 2017 and as she had been such a colourful character who loved jewellery, her mum Susan started making bracelets to sell in her memory. 

Friends and family far and wide organised marathons, bike rides and numerous other challenge events to raise money in Emily’s memory. Her family used these proceeds to set up The Emily Morris Fund and sought advice from The Brain Tumour Charity.  

The Charity told them about Professor Neil Carragher’s research at the University of Edinburgh and they were “absolutely blown away” by his efforts to find treatments for glioblastoma and decided to support it.  

Jack said: “Funding research through The Brain Tumour Charity, wherever it needs to be in the world, by the best practitioners, by the best institutions, is the lifeblood of finding a cure for this awful disease.” 

Emily’s brother, Bobby, added: “We will always keep Emily’s memory alive because we talk about her a lot.

“Whenever we’re at a family dinner or a birthday, we’ll always do a little toast to her and just make sure that she’s remembered … Our family will always be a family of five people, we’re not a family of four.” 

You can find out more about Professor Carragher’s research here:

https://www.thebraintumourcharity.org/news/research-news/finding-new-drugs-for-treating-glioblastoma/ 

And read Emily’s full story here: https://www.thebraintumourcharity.org/emily-morris-fund/ 

Diagnostic test waiting times: cancer patients waiting too long, says charity

Cancer Research UK’s has responded to the latest diagnostic test waiting times statistics published by Public Health Scotland. Eight tests are considered in the report, including several that are relevant to the diagnosis of cancer. 

These latest figures show that more than 155,000 patients in Scotland were waiting for a key diagnostic test at the end of March 2022. This is a 10% increase compared with the previous quarter and a 74% increase compared with pre-pandemic levels. 

The report also tells us that, of those people waiting, 50% had been waiting more than six weeks for their test at the end of March 2022.

This is similar to the proportion waiting at the end of the previous quarter and more than three times the proportion pre-pandemic, which was 16% at the end of March 2019. The figures also show around 5,400 (3.5%) patients waiting for a test had been waiting over a year, with almost all of these patients waiting for an endoscopy test. 

The Scottish Government standard that no one should be waiting more than six weeks for a diagnostic test hasn’t been met since June 2010. 

David Ferguson, public affairs manager for Cancer Research UK in Scotland, said: “It is unacceptable that people in Scotland are waiting too long for a test to determine whether they have cancer. Early diagnosis followed by swift access to the most effective treatment can save lives.  

“Despite the best efforts of NHS staff, the delays are due to Scotland’s chronic staff shortages in the areas key to diagnosing and treating cancer. These shortages have hampered progress for years – well before the pandemic.

“The Scottish Government must set out long-term, properly funded plans to address workforce shortages and improve cancer services so patients get the care they need and deserve.”

Edinburgh urged to get into gear to help beat cancer

PEOPLE in Edinburgh are being urged to get on their bikes for Cancer Research UK and raise money for a wheelie great cause.

People of all ages and abilities – from seasoned cyclists to recent converts – are being encouraged to sign up now for the Cycle 300 challenge to help the charity continue its life-saving mission.

Taking part needn’t feel like an uphill struggle when participants can choose how, when and where to clock up 300 miles during June – whether it’s 10 miles every day, 75 miles every weekend or all in one go.

Cycling to work, exploring the countryside and taking part in spin classes can all add up, along with ditching the car for a bike to pop to the shops. And with exercise bikes growing in popularity, it’s easy for homeworkers to get involved too.

The challenge can be completed indoors, outdoors, solo or as part of a team.

Not only will taking part help to raise vital funds, but there is also the added benefit of getting on a bike to keep fit and healthy. Depending on weight and effort, cyclists could burn roughly between 450 to 750 calories per hour.

Moderate exercise such as cycling can help build stamina and keep a healthy body weight, which reduces the risk of a range of diseases including cancer.

In Scotland, around 33,200 people are diagnosed with cancer each year*. But, thanks to research, more people than ever across the UK are surviving for 10 years or more.

As Cancer Research UK celebrates its 20th anniversary, it is paying tribute to its supporters for the part they have played in this progress.

Victoria Steven, the charity’s spokesperson for Scotland, said: “One in two of us will get cancer in our lifetime**. But all of us can play a part to help beat it.

“For the past 20 years, the incredible generosity and commitment of people in Scotland has helped Cancer Research UK make discoveries that have saved countless lives and which benefit millions of people around the world. But we have so much more to do.

“By taking part in Cycle 300 this June, commuters, weekend enthusiasts or gym bunnies alike can help the charity’s scientists go the distance and unlock new and better ways to beat the disease. We’ve come so far. And we will go much further. Together we will beat cancer.”

Last year, Cancer Research UK spent nearly £30 million in Scotland on some of the UK’s leading scientific and clinical research.

Victoria added: “Every day we see the benefits of research we’ve previously funded being realised, helping people live longer and healthier lives. That’s why we need cyclists across the country to help us keep investing in science today to deliver the treatments of tomorrow.”

Join the Cycle 300 challenge and receive a free fundraising pack at cruk.org/cycle300.