CANCER INCIDENCE OF 4 MOST COMMON CANCERS FOR MEN

1
Evidence to Inform Policy and Improve
Health Mann MK1, Morgan HE1, Morgan FM1, Roberts
C2, Shepherd M3, Turley RL1 and Weightman AL1 1.
Support Unit for Research Evidence, Cardiff
University, Wales, UK. 2. Public Health
Improvement Division, Welsh Assembly Government,
Wales, UK. 3. Cardiff Institute of Society,
Health and Ethics, Cardiff University, Wales, UK.
BACKGROUND The Welsh Assembly Government (WAG)
commissioned Cardiff University to investigate
the evidence underlying the social determinants
of cancer building on previous work on CHD and
common mental disorders. The research team was
asked to identify evidence-based indicators that
could be used to measure the impact of
initiatives to ameliorate health inequalities at
both national and local level.
METHODOLOGY The team undertook a systematic
review of studies published between 1994 and
2007. Highly sensitive search strategies were
developed and searches performed across 21
databases. Additional studies were identified
through a range of snowballing techniques.
Prospective longitudinal studies and
retrospective studies based on cancer databases
and registries were included. The key results
are detailed below along with suggested
indicators to measure the determinants within the
local population.
CANCER INCIDENCE OF 4 MOST COMMON CANCERS FOR MEN
WOMEN IN WALES 2006 EASR -
European Age Standardised Rate per 100,000
population Source Welsh Cancer Intelligence and
Surveillance Unit, http//www.wcisu.wales.nhs.uk/

KEY ASSOCIATIONS direction of association
cancer site number of studies Area
deprivation High incidence with deprivation
cervix3, lung 4, oral cavity 4 High
incidence with affluence prostate4 Social
Class High incidence with low social class
lung2, oesophagus 2, stomach 2 High
incidence with high social class malignant
melanoma2 Night Shift Work High incidence with
high levels of night shift work breast
4 Family Personal Relationships Cancers
associated with these determinants were generally
those associated with smoking, alcohol
consumption and HPV infection.
EASR
POLICY IMPLICATIONS The social determinants and
associated indicators identified through this
work, are being used to support the development
and monitoring of Welsh Assembly Government
policies and local health, social care and
well-being strategies.