Reducing inequalities for people with SMI across the lung cancer pathway
Background
People living with serious mental illness (SMI) experience poorer cancer outcomes, including later diagnosis, reduced access to optimal treatment, and poorer survival rates. National recommendations have recently been developed to address these inequalities and improve cancer care in these pathways.
The Health Innovation Network South London (HIN) has partnered with King’s Health Partners (KHP) and South East London Cancer Alliance (SELCA) to inform the recommendations from the recently published KHP report ‘Addressing health inequalities: Improving early detection and diagnosis in lung cancer for people with severe mental illness in South East London‘.
To achieve equitable early cancer diagnosis and improved cancer survival rates, targeted action for people with SMI is crucial. Our work will build on the new evidence showing that lung cancer inequalities for people with SMI are both measurable and modifiable.
What is the link between SMI and lung cancer?
People living with SMI (i.e., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or psychosis) face a stark and persistent inequality in lung cancer outcomes, driven by both increased health risks and barriers to timely access, engagement, and progression through lung cancer pathways.
- Five times more likely to die prematurely (as many as 15-20 years earlier) than their counterparts in the general population
- Two out of three deaths often occur as a result of a preventable
physical health conditions - 31% higher diagnosis rates of lung cancer than the general population
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Reducing inequalities for people with SMI across the lung cancer pathway
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