Health inequalities in cancer care: a literature review of pathways to diagnosis in the United Kingdom.

This literature review discusses current health disparities in cancer care in the United Kingdom, spanning access to services, diagnosis, and outcomes. These inequities stem from a complex interplay of factors such as health literacy, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, age, gender, geography, and lifestyle choices. Health literacy plays a crucial role in timely healthcare seeking and diagnosis, while cultural beliefs significantly shape perceptions and behaviours. Socioeconomic barriers often result in delayed diagnosis and inferior outcomes due to limited access to preventive measures and high-quality treatment. Barriers to timely diagnosis include non-specific symptoms, variations in diagnostic intervals influenced by age and gender, and non-attendance at secondary care appointments. Addressing these challenges necessitates initiatives aimed at improving health literacy, implementing culturally sensitive screening approaches, and enhancing accessibility to both primary and secondary care services.