Cost of breast cancer to UK economy could reach £3.6bn by 2034, study shows

Figure represents cost to NHS, productivity lost by society, and losses and expenses for patients

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

This year, the total cost of breast cancer to the UK economy is estimated to be 2.6bn-2.8bn, or about 0.1% of UK gross output, economic modelling in the study shows. That could rise by almost 40% if no action is taken to improve screening rates and cut advanced cancer cases, the study from the thinktank Demos and the charity Breast Cancer Now suggests.