Rural cancer deaths higher

Rural life not so idyllic, research suggests

People living in rural areas are much more likely to die of cancer than urban dwellers, research suggests.

The findings question the assumption that living outside cities is good for your health, say scientists at the Cancer Research Campaign (CRC).

Our research has gone some way to dispel the myth that living in rural areas improves your health

Dr Neil Campbell, University of Aberdeen

Following a study of more than 60,000 patients in Scotland diagnosed with lung, colorectal, breast, prostate, stomach or ovarian cancer between 1991 and 1995, researchers found death rates were far worse in rural areas.

They focused on the small proportion of people - between 3% and 9% depending on the type of cancer - who were not diagnosed before they died.

This group of 3,500 people showed that:

• Rural breast cancer patients are nearly three times more likely to die before diagnosis compared with urban patients
• Rural bowel cancer patients are nearly twice as likely to die before diagnosis
• Rural stomach cancer patients are four times more likely to die before diagnosis

The proximity of a person's home to a specialised cancer centre also played a role in whether their disease was diagnosed before their death.

Dr Neil Campbell, of the University of Aberdeen, who led the study, said: "Our research has gone some way to dispel the myth that living in rural areas improves your health."

No solutions

He added: "We have highlighted the problem, but we need to investigate it more fully to find solutions.

"In the meantime, cancer doctors and authorities responsible for developing health services need to think of ways to make it easier for people living in rural areas to get a diagnosis and treatment."

Results for patients with lung, prostate and ovarian cancer, however, did not differ significantly between rural and urban dwellers - a finding that Dr Campbell said could not currently be explained.

Professor Gordon McVie, director general of the CRC, said: "This study clearly highlights the problem cancer patients in rural areas have to endure and challenges the widespread belief that they have a health advantage over their urban neighbours.

"Many patients with symptoms which could indicate cancer are elderly and travelling to the doctor can be difficult."

He added that planning departments needed to make greater efforts to ensure cancer services were available to everybody regardless of where they lived.