ReutersMore people die from lung cancer in the Channel Islands than any other type of cancer, according to a new NHS report.
The National Disease Registry Service (NDRS), part of NHS England, reveals that by 2020, lung, upper gastrointestinal and colorectal cancers were the most common cancers killing people on the island. did.
The report, published jointly with public health authorities on both islands, also found that: Skin cancer remains the most common cancer More people are infected on the islands than on the mainland.
Dr Elizabeth Gomez dos Santos, Head of Oncology at Jersey Health and Community Services (HCS), said the report demonstrates “a continuing effort to understand and address cancer at all levels”. He said that
Both islands had the highest number of deaths from lung cancer, but when the figures were adjusted for age, the death rate from prostate cancer was slightly higher in Guernsey and second only to lung cancer in Jersey. Ta.
The report found that people in the islands were more likely to get lung cancer than in the south-west, but the numbers were about the same as the average for England.
For all cancers, rates in Guernsey and Jersey were similar to those in England and the South West, but there were some differences for individual cancers.
Guernsey’s director of public health information, Jenny Cataros, said the figures “give the island a sense of reassurance”.
Like skin cancer, head and neck cancer was also more common in both islands compared to England, but breast cancer incidence was higher in Jersey than in England.
Guernsey had lower rates of uterine cancer than England and the South West, and Jersey had lower rates of leukemia than the mainland.
prevention
causes of smoking More than 85% of deaths from lung cancerAccording to Cancer Research UK.
Recently on Guernsey, Prohibit smoking in cars carrying childrenwhile other options are emerging, such as Prohibition of smoking on the beach or Increase in smoking age.
in jersey No smoking in similar vehicles Since 2015, and Prohibition of branding on cigarettes In 2022.
A spokeswoman for Public Health Jersey said the rise in skin cancer rates on the island was mainly due to “ultraviolet radiation exposure from sunlight and sunbeds”.
Diane Matthews, from Guernsey Public Health, said: “That’s why it’s so important that Islanders can enjoy the sunshine safely.”
She said cancer can be prevented by covering up, applying sunscreen and avoiding the sun between 11am and 3pm on sunny days.
Ms Matthews said early detection was also important, adding that people should know what their skin is “normal” and see their doctor if they notice any changes.
Screening service
This report is the second in a series of updates aimed at bringing cancer data up to date in the islands, with the final report expected at the end of 2025.
This is the first report to have data on at what stage each of the four most common cancers is diagnosed, from stage 1 (limited spread) to stage 4 (very widespread spread). is.
Ms Cataros said this new data will help medical professionals understand how many cancers are being detected early on the island.
Dr Gomez dos Santos, who is also chair of Jersey’s Cancer Strategy Implementation Committee, said the research would leave the islands “better equipped” to tackle cancer effectively.
He said it was important not only to strengthen “screening and early detection capacity” but also to “minimize risk factors as much as possible.”
