More than 17,000 cancer deaths could be prevented each year in the UK and Ireland if lifestyles and healthcare were improved in the most deprived areas, according to a study on Tuesday.

Socially deprived areas in the north of England and central Scotland have a higher than average occurrence and death rate for cancers of the lung, lip, mouth and pharynx, according to a “cancer atlas” published by the Office for National Statistics.

These conditions, all associated with smoking, alcohol abuse and poor diet, were found with lower than average rates in the prosperous south and midlands of England.

“People in deprived areas are more likely to get some types of cancer and their survival from most types of cancer is lower,” said National Cancer Director Mike Richards in a foreword to the study.

“This atlas highlights those cancers and areas where further education, provision of services, or attention to the environment - in the broadest sense, including diet - could markedly reduce the number of cancer cases and deaths.”

Stopping smoking and cutting down on alcohol would have the greatest effect on cancer death rates, said the report, which based its findings on data from 1991 to 2000.

It estimated around 17,450 cancer deaths a year could be prevented, of which 8,600 would be from cancer of the lung, and 5,720 from cancers of the bladder, stomach, oesophagus, lip, mouth, larynx, pancreas and bladder.

Around 90 percent of lung cancer cases are attributable to smoking, the report said, while smoking, along with alcohol-abuse and poor diet, are the main risk factors for the other cancers.

If these reductions were achieved, just 15 health authorities in the north of England and Scotland would account for a third of all the extra lives saved across the UK and Ireland.

The Department of Health said the report’s data would help the government’s own Cancer Plan, which was published in 2000.

“It is crucial that preventative actions to help people lead a healthy lifestyle are implemented first in those areas where prevalence of cancer is particularly high,” a Department of Health spokeswoman said.