Research shows the cost of breast cancer to the UK economy could reach £3.6 billion by 2034

The cost of breast cancer to the UK economy could reach £3.6 billion a year by 2034, according to a new report.

This year, the total cost of breast cancer to the UK economy is estimated at £2.6 billion to £2.8 billion, or around 0.1% of the UK’s gross output, economic modeling from the study shows. That could rise by almost 40% if no action is taken to improve screening rates and reduce advanced cases of cancer, the research from think tank Demos and charity Breast Cancer Now suggests.

Baroness Delyth Morgan, CEO of Breast Cancer Now, said: “These revealing, unique estimates of the economic and welfare costs of breast cancer in Britain show that breast cancer is far from a done deal. ‘, and the consequences if we don’t act now will be dire.’

The figures quoted in the study represent the costs to the NHS in terms of diagnosis and treatment, the costs to society in terms of lost productivity, both for the patient and carers, and the individual costs that people bear, such as co-payments. expenses and loss of income.

The 2024 figures include £727 million spent on NHS treatment and screening, plus a £1.8 billion productivity loss for patients.

In 2019, 56,343 new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed, the report said, but this is expected to rise to 64,708 cases by 2034.

Researchers also looked at the “real human cost of breast cancer.” The welfare costs associated with breast cancer, including those arising from reduced quality of life and premature death and the impact on carers, partners and children, are estimated at £17.5 billion by 2024.

Morgan added: “While progress has been made in diagnosis, treatment and care, people diagnosed with breast cancer and their loved ones share with us every day the challenges of living with the disease and how their wellbeing and quality of life have deteriorated.

“While 98% of women diagnosed with stage 1 survive for five years or more, we cannot afford to be complacent about breast cancer – it is the most common cancer in the world and the number of cases is increasing.

“In Britain alone there are around 55,000 new cases every year and breast cancer causes more than 11,000 deaths.”

The report states that increasing breast cancer screening rates, training more cancer nurses and providing better support for people returning to work would have the biggest impact on reducing costs.

An NHS England spokesperson said: “This report rightly recognizes the significant progress made in improving breast cancer survival rates since the 1990s.

“We are working hard to improve diagnosis and survival rates, with 1,100 more early-stage breast cancer patients diagnosed each year than before the pandemic.”