Cost of cancer to UK economy revealed

Research into the financial impact of cancer has found the 50,000 people of working age who died from the disease in 2014, could have boosted the UK economy by £585 million through their earnings. 

Rethinking Cancer, written by the thinktank International Longevity Centre – UK (ILC-UK) which quantifies the financial and societal impact of the disease, says 1.8 million people living with and surviving cancer in the UK contribute approximately £6.9 billion to the UK economy annually through paid employment.

The researchers even put a monetary value of £15.2 billion on the work done by cancer survivors to benefit society and help care for others, including volunteering.

The report calls on the government to improve survival rates, revealing that England has lagged behind Europe for 20 years. The gap between England and the European average of survivorship has stayed at 10%, and closing it, the report says, would cost the UK £117 million.

Finally, it estimates that if employers hired cancer survivors at the same rate as they hire the rest of the population, those workers would generate an additional £4 billion.

Chief executive of ILC-UK, Baroness Sally Greengross, said: ‘Government and health professionals have a moral obligation to continue to improve cancer survival rates and better support cancer survivors.

'‘Rethinking Cancer’ also highlights the economic imperative for action. It is vital that the government’s vision to improve cancer outcomes through better prevention, swifter diagnosis and better treatment, care and aftercare is delivered.

‘It is also important that we ensure that cancer patients receive support, which can help them gain confidence in returning to employment.'