Closing the Gap: Why Cancer Care Must Adapt for People with Complex Needs
Millions of people living with severe mental illness or intellectual disabilities face an invisible barrier when it comes to cancer screening and treatment. Recent research from Cancer Research UK shows that these groups are significantly more likely to die from lung cancer—the UK’s leading cause of cancer mortality—than the general population.
What the Numbers Reveal
According to a 2023 Cancer Research UK report, individuals with severe mental health conditions have up to a 30% higher risk of late-stage cancer diagnosis. The same study found