To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many people were diagnosed with prostate cancer in (a) 2001, (b) 2002, (c) 2003, (d) 2004, (e) 2005, (f) 2006 and (g) 2007; and in how many cases in each year the prognosis was that the cancer was terminal. (243167)

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.

Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 21 January 2009:

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people were diagnosed with prostate cancer in (a) 2001, (b), 2002, (c) 2003, (d) 2004, (e) 2005, (0 2006 and (g) 2007; and in how many cases in each year the prognosis was that the cancer was terminal. [243167]

The latest available figures for newly diagnosed cases of cancer (incidence) are for the year 2006. Table 1 gives the numbers of newly diagnosed cases of prostate cancer in England in (a) 2001, (b) 2002, (c) 2003, (d) 2004, (e) 2005, (f) 2006, the latest available figures.

Information on whether the prognosis was terminal is not available. Whether the cancer was terminal could be indicated by the stage/progression of the disease. The stage data collected is not nationally comparable, and reflects differences in what is meant by “stage” rather than real differences in what clinicians use to classify the patients. The United Kingdom Association of Cancer Registries (UKACR) is investigating what should be counted as a complete stage in an attempt to be able to provide comparable data in the future.