People from some of ­Glasgow’s poorest postcodes are more likely to die from cancer than anywhere else in Scotland.

Official NHS figures show mortality rates for all types of cancer were 74 per cent higher in the most deprived parts of the country than more affluent areas.

A previous Scottish Government report on deprivation found seven areas in the city – including Easterhouse, Govan and Dalmarnock – to be among the 5% most deprived areas in Scotland.

The NHS stats also revealed more people in Glasgow are dying from liver cancer than anywhere else in the country.

The disease – caused by obesity, alcohol and hepatitis B and C – last year killed 128 people, substantially higher than the national average.

And the figure marks an increase of 71 per cent in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde region over 10 years, from 75 in 2008.

While mortality rates have fallen by 12 per cent for men and seven per cent for women over the last 10 years, liver cancer deaths have risen markedly, up by 67 per cent for women and 55 per cent for men over the period.

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The overall 59 per cent increase in the mortality rate for liver cancer reflects the rise in Scots being diagnosed with the disease – with the report noting “survival from liver cancer is poor in most cases”.

Cancer Research UK said staff shortages within the NHS were impacting on the ability to diagnose cancer at an early stage.

Gordon Matheson, the charity’s public affairs manager for Scotland, said: “Too many families are losing loved ones to cancer, a disease that kills more people in Scotland than any other.

“Over the past 40 years our researchers have made great progress in the fight against cancer but it’s clear much more needs to be done.

“For many common cancers, survival triples when diagnosed at an early stage so it’s essential people with suspected cancer are given the best possible chance of an early diagnosis.”

He added: “Staff shortages are harming the NHS’s ability to diagnose cancer at an early stage.

“The Scottish Government needs to tackle this problem urgently and plan to ensure there are enough key cancer staff now and in the future.”

Across Scotland, the number of people dying from cancer increased last year, according to the figures.

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ISD Scotland statistics show there were 16,153 deaths from the disease in 2018 compared to 16,105 the year before and 15,211 in 2008.

While the cancer mortality rate has fallen 10 per cent over the last decade, the number of deaths has not.

Lung cancer alone was the case of a quarter of all cancer deaths, taking the lives of 3980 people last year.

Bowel cancer was the second most common cause of cancer deaths, with 1743 people dying from it, while there were 1001 deaths from breast cancer, 923 from prostate cancer and 873 from cancer of the oesophagus – the tube which connects the mouth with the stomach.

Gordon McLean, from Macmillan Cancer Support, said a “blanket approach” was not working.

He said: “It’s clearer than ever before that one blanket approach to detection, treatment and care won’t work for everyone.

“We need a system that can cope with the growing numbers of people with cancer while meeting their individual needs.”

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “Our £42million Detect Cancer Early programme aims to increase the proportion of breast, bowel and lung cancers detected at an early stage.

“The programme also aims to reduce the inequality gap as those from more deprived areas are less likely to take part in screening and more likely to present at a later stage, when the chance of survival is lower.”