UK cancer levels reach new European high

THE UK has the highest rate of oesophageal cancer in Europe, while liver cancer deaths have jumped more than 70 per cent, according to new research.

Alcohol and obesity are helping fuel both types of disease, with many of these cancer cases preventable if people were healthier.

A league table of European cancer rates of the oesophagus show about 6.4 out of every 100,000 people develop oesophageal cancer in the UK every year – almost double the European average of 3.3 and higher than Ireland on 5.9.

Dr Rachel Thompson, deputy head of science for the World Cancer Research Fund, said: “The fact that the UK has the highest rate of oesophageal cancer in Europe is a real concern because it is a type of cancer that has a particularly low survival rate.”

Andrew Langford, chief executive of the British Liver Trust, said: “The situation is now at breaking point and we need to see direct action to prevent the daily death rate from liver cancer increasing.”

Liver disease is influenced by obesity and alcohol but can also result from hepatitis.