Cost of treating cancer patients set to soar as number of elderly grows

Healthcare analyst Laing & Buisson warned UK cancer survival rates could fall behind other developed nations because diagnosis and treatment costs are likely to increase by 62 per cent – from £9.4bn in 2010, to £15.3bn by 2021.

It means the average cost of treating someone diagnosed with cancer will soar from £30,000 today, to almost £40,000 by 2021.

Data last month showed the UK is lagging behind other countries on average survival rates for breast, bowel and cervical cancer.

The new report, carried out for private healthcare firm Bupa, says: “If we do not address the rising cost of cancer, we are unlikely to be able to afford the desired level of diagnosis and treatment over the next 10 years.

“This possibility will mean that the UK’s cancer survival rate could fall even further behind that of other developed countries.”

The predicted leap in costs would come largely as a result of Britain’s ageing population, which is predicted to lead to a 20 per cent growth in cancer rates by 2021. Increasing cost of technology and treatments used to combat the disease will also be a key factor.

Professor Karol Sikora, medical director of Cancer Partners UK, said: “Ironically, the reasons behind this dramatic increase in costs are a cause for celebration.

“Cancer is predominantly a disease of older people and because of the advances of modern medicine, many more are living in good health well beyond retirement. This trend is set to continue, so cancer incidence will inevitably rise.”

The report concludes cancer costs for the NHS alone will soar by £5.2bn by 2021.