March 26, 2026 - 239 views
Cancer survival rates in Wales have returned to pre-pandemic levels, but new figures reveal persistent inequalities that continue to affect communities — including parts of North Wales.
Latest data from Public Health Wales and its Welsh Cancer Intelligence and Surveillance Unit show that by 2022, around 75% of people diagnosed with cancer survived at least one year — recovering from a drop seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, longer-term survival has remained largely unchanged. Around 60% of patients survive five years after diagnosis, a figure that has plateaued since the mid-2010s.
While the recovery is encouraging, health experts say the data highlights a more concerning issue — a widening gap in survival rates between the most and least deprived communities.
Across Wales, there is now a 12.2 percentage point difference in five-year survival rates depending on levels of deprivation. This gap has grown in recent years, particularly following the disruption caused by the pandemic.
In North Wales, where some communities face higher levels of deprivation and more rural access challenges, the findings are especially relevant. Delays in diagnosis, limited access to services and lower uptake of screening programmes can all contribute to poorer outcomes.
The report also found that survival rates are significantly lower when cancer is diagnosed at a later stage. In the least deprived areas, around 41% of people diagnosed with late-stage cancer survive five years — compared to just 31% in the most deprived areas.
Common cancers such as bowel and lung cancer show some of the widest inequalities, with survival improving in more affluent areas while remaining largely unchanged in others.
Health experts say early diagnosis remains one of the most important factors in improving survival rates. Programmes such as Breast Test Wales, Bowel Screening Wales and Cervical Screening Wales are designed to detect cancer earlier, often before symptoms appear.
Professor Dyfed Wyn Huws said the recovery in one-year survival rates is positive, but warned more needs to be done to address long-standing inequalities.
He urged people to seek medical advice if they notice potential symptoms such as unexplained weight loss, a persistent cough, blood in stools, or unusual lumps.
There are also wider prevention messages, with experts estimating that up to four in ten cancers could be prevented through lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy weight and reducing alcohol consumption.
In North Wales, organisations including local health boards and charities continue to promote early diagnosis campaigns and screening uptake, particularly in harder-to-reach communities.
The latest figures underline a clear message — while progress has been made, where you live and your circumstances can still have a significant impact on cancer outcomes.
