A CHARITY is calling on Welsh Government to develop a long-term strategy to tackle cancer inequality in the country.

Tenovus has marked World Cancer Day (February 4) by making this plea, as people living in the most deprived communities have a 20 per cent greater chance of developing and dying from cancer than their more affluent neighbours.

Led by the Union for International Cancer Control, campaigners from almost 200 countries are uniting today to raise awareness and take action to close the global gap in cancer diagnosis and treatment.

While there have been huge advances and one-third of cancers are preventable and another third cured if detected early and treated promptly, 65 per cent of cancer deaths happen in the least developed part of the world.

Even if you live in a more affluent country, there are huge variations in your odds of developing cancer and surviving.

Wales has communities among the most deprived in the UK.

According to the most recent Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (WIMD), the most deprived area of Wales is in Rhyl, and the least in the Radyr/Morganstown area of Cardiff.

Judi Rhys, chief executive of Tenovus Cancer Care, said: “As a Wales-based cancer support charity, we understand too well the message of this year’s World Cancer Day with its focus on closing the global cancer gap.

“Sadly, all the indications are that the cancer gap between the most and least deprived areas in Wales is widening and more so than in England.

“Wales has pockets of the worst deprivation in the UK and we are yet to realise the full effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer diagnosis or treatment.

“Add to this the rising cost of living and we are in unprecedented times in terms of cancer diagnosis and treatment.

“There needs to be a focus on narrowing the cancer gap by concentrating on the most deprived areas where too often people present late with symptoms and there is more ill health.

“Welsh Government should also put a long-term strategy in place to tackle the widening cancer gap that means developing cancer in Wales, as well as the world, is all too often and unjustly down to where you live.”

Tenovus provides a host of support services for cancer patients including nursing support, a benefits advice service, and Tele-friends for people experiencing loneliness, feeling isolated or in need of someone to talk to.

Helen Powell, head of support services at Tenovus, added: “I’d encourage anyone who is affected by cancer and in need of advice or support, whether that is a worry about a diagnosis, financial struggle or simply in need of a helpful chat, to give us a call.

“Our teams offer a small and friendly service and will deal with your call with compassion and care.

“We’ll go that extra mile to make sure we do everything in our power to make your life with cancer easier.”