Figures just released by the Office of National Statistics state cancer patients in poorer areas of the country - particularly in the North of England - have a lower chance of being alive five years after diagnosis.

Its study of primary care trusts found "significantly lower" survival rates for both men and women across a range of cancers in the 62 most deprived areas of the country - including Blackpool, Manchester and Cumbria.

Blackpool's public health report for 2006 showed men in the resort were 18 per cent more likely and females 25 per cent more likely to die from cancer than other parts of the country.

Arif Rajpura, director of public health for Blackpool, said there were three possible reasons for poor cancer survival rates in Blackpool.

He said: "It could be that in more deprived areas, people tend to see their doctor later meaning later diagnosis and the disease is more advanced. We can work on tackling this through education and work to improve screening rates.

"The other factor could be that people don't tend to comply with treatment and another factor could be the fact their general health and well-being is worse - making it harder to fight off any illness."

Dave Myers, who was diagnosed with myeloma - cancer of the plasma cells in the bone marrow - in 2004, is now in remission.

The 70-year-old, who runs The Windsor Hotel in North Shore, said he was not entirely surprised by the news.

He said: "It seems there is something of a lottery in the health service. It's difficult to know why, but there should not be those kinds of discrepancies.

"It's supposed to be a national health service, not a different service for more affluent areas.

"Having said that, the treatment I've received in Blackpool at the Victoria Hospital has been excellent. I have had chemotherapy and stem cell treatment and am doing well. The doctors at the hospital do their best, even if we are not in one of the wealthiest parts of the country."

Dr Paul Kelsey, medical director at Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said the Government figures were not the most up-to-date as they covered the period 1998 - 2003.

Dr Kelsey, who works in haematology and deals first-hand with cancer patients, said: "It certainly isn't a question of access.

"Since 2003, a lot of improvements have been made in terms of structure, a regional network, better access. We have to ask if patients are presenting early enough."