Cancer

Leicester Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA). Health and social care needs associated with cancer, 2022.

Cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells begin dividing uncontrollably, beyond their usual limits, forming ‘growth’s, otherwise known as tumours. Tumours can migrate to other tissues and/or organs causing secondary tumours called metastases.

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020, or one in six deaths. The most common cancers are breast, lung, colon and rectum and prostate cancers.

The causes are multi-factorial with some unmodifiable risk factors such as age, sex, ethnicity and socio-economic deprivation. Around one-third of deaths from cancer are due to modifiable risk factors including tobacco use, high body mass index, alcohol consumption, low fruit and vegetable intake and lack of physical activity.

The following chapter further details the level of need in the population, current services in place, project service use, any service gaps and recommendations for commissioners.