Data on cancer affecting working-age adults: FOI release

Information requested

Data to better understand trends in cancer affecting working-age adults in Scotland, and the potential impact on families.

For each of the last 10 years (or the longest period available), please provide:

1. Cancer diagnoses

• The number of new cancer diagnoses in Scotland among people aged:
  • Under 40
  • 40–49
  • 50–54

2. Where available, a breakdown by cancer type.

3. Cancer-related deaths

• The number of deaths where the underlying cause was cancer among people:
  • Under 55
  • Under 60

 4. Family impact (where recorded)

• Where data is held, the number of cancer-related deaths among working-age adults where the deceased had dependent children at the time of death.
• If data on dependent children is not held centrally, please advise what related indicators are available (for example, age of deceased or parental status).

Response

Most of the information you have requested is available from Public Health Scotland as outlined below:

Cancer Diagnoses

Public Health Scotland release data on the number of cancer diagnoses in Scotland in the publication Cancer Incidence in Scotland available here:

Cancer incidence in Scotland - to December 2023 - Cancer incidence in Scotland - Publications - Public Health Scotland

The open data tables provide an age and cancer type breakdown as requested.

Cancer Related Deaths

Public Health Scotland release data on cancer related deaths in Scotland in the publication Cancer Mortality available here:

Cancer mortality in Scotland - Annual update to 2022 - Cancer mortality - Publications - Public Health Scotland

The open data tables provide an age and cancer type breakdown as requested.

Family Impact

Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested, as it does not hold any patient level data. You may wish to contact phs.cancerstats@phs.scot.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.