Scotland's cancer crisis deepens as deaths rise to a record 17,000 amid soaring waiting times

Cancer deaths have hit a record high in Scotland amid concerns about the impact of soaring waiting times.

Official figures show cancer was a cause of 17,014 deaths last year, up 1.7 per cent on 16,725 in 2022.

It is the first time the figure has soared above 17,000 and annual deaths are now 853 higher than they were a decade ago.

The rise comes at a time of growing concern about delays to cancer treatment after diagnosis.

Nearly one in three patients are now needing to wait more than the 62-day standard from urgent suspicion of cancer to first treatment.

Scottish Conservative deputy health spokesman Tess White said: ‘These stats lay bare a stark and depressing reality: spiralling cancer treatment times tragically lead to a spiralling death toll.

‘Scotland lags way behind comparable countries for cancer survival times and frankly it should be a source of shame for SNP ministers that their 62-day target has not been met in well over a decade.

‘Despite the best efforts of frontline staff, the SNP’s dire workforce planning and Humza Yousaf’s flimsy recovery plan mean they are operating with one arm tied behind their backs - culminating in 2023 being labelled the worst year on record for cancer waiting times.

‘Everyone will know someone who has been affected by this awful disease, and we’re all aware of the correlation between prompt treatment and survival chances. 

Neil Gray must urgently get a grip on cancer waiting times before more patients die needlessly.’

Figures from National Records of Scotland show that neoplasms (cancerous masses) were listed as the cause of death for 8,784 men and 8,230 women in 2023.

The most common type for men was malignant neoplasms on the trachea, bronchus and lung, which caused 1,851 deaths, followed by the prostate, which caused 1,114 deaths.

For women, the most common type was also cancers of the trachea, bronchus and lung, which caused 1,927 deaths, followed by breast cancer, which claimed 994 victims.

Total cancer deaths increased by 1.7 per cent from 16,725 in 2022 to 17,014 last year, and were 5.3 per cent higher than 16,161 a decade ago in 2013.

Cancer charities have condemned soaring waiting times, and say 2023 was the worst year on record amid problems including staff shortages, broken equipment and rising referrals.

The 62-day target - the maximum time patients should wait between an urgent referral for cancer tests and starting treatment - has not been met since 2012.

Figures for the first three months of this year showed just 70.4 per cent of patients were seen in 62 days - the second-worst figure on record and little improvement on the 69.5 per cent seen in the same period last year.

Kate Seymour, head of advocacy for Macmillan Cancer Support, said: ‘Despite the tireless efforts of NHS staff, people with cancer are being failed by a health care system that is not being given the resources it needs to support them.

‘Cancer can affect every part of someone’s life - from healthcare and finances to work, housing and relationships - but right now people living with cancer are not getting the person-centred care that they desperately need.

‘The latest Macmillan research shows that the UK is lagging decades behind other countries when it comes to survival rates. 

For example in Scotland survival rates for prostate cancer are still below what Sweden had already achieved by the early 2000s.

‘It doesn’t have to be this way. The Scottish Government must take action to ensure people living with cancer get the care they need before the situation gets any worse. 

That means bolstering the cancer workforce and investing in equipment to ensure people are diagnosed early, treated quickly and supported through all the impacts cancer can have on their lives.’