According to the report, Britain has one of the worst cancer survival rates in the developed world

Britain has one of the worst cancer survival rates in the developed world, according to new research.

Analysis of international data of the Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce found that five-year survival rates for lung, liver, brain, oesophageal, pancreatic and stomach cancers in Britain are worse than in most comparable countries. On average, only 16% of British patients live with these cancers for five years.

Out 33 countries With similar wealth and income levels, Britain ranks 28th for five-year survival of both stomach and lung cancer, 26th for pancreatic cancer, 25th for brain cancer and 21st and 16th for liver and oesophageal cancer respectively.

The six cancers are responsible for almost half of all common cancer deaths in Britain more than 90,000 people one of these cases is diagnosed in Britain every year.

The task force calculated that if people with these cancers in Britain had the same prognosis as patients in countries with the highest five-year survival rates – Korea, Belgium, the US, Australia and China – more than 8,000 lives could be saved each year. year.

Anna Jewell, chair of the Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce, said: “People who have been diagnosed with a lower survival rate are already fighting the odds to survive. If we could bring survival rates from these cancers to the same level as those of the world’s best-performing countries, we could give thousands of patients valuable years of life.

“If we want to see positive and meaningful change, all UK governments must commit to proactively investing in research and putting processes in place so we can speed up diagnosis and improve treatment options.”

In Great Britain, seven in ten patients get this no treatment at all for pancreatic cancer and of the 10,000 people diagnosed annually, only 10% undergo surgery. This is also the case in England only 65% ​​of people with a cancerous brain tumor are treated with surgery, radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy – the main potential treatments – compared to 85% of breast cancer patients.

Commenting on the findings, Prof. Pat Price, Chairman of Radiotherapy UK and co-founder of the Catch Up With Cancer campaign, said: “The terrible cancer survival rates in Britain, including less survivable cancers, are contributing to a national catalog of failing cancer care. . The international evidence is clear: countries with a cancer plan see improved survival. Decisive action and investment through a cancer plan could quickly improve many areas of cancer.

“It is not enough to focus on the speed of diagnosis as the way forward. We also need to increase treatment capacity. A radical cancer plan is the key to significant performance improvements and better survival rates. Anything less will keep us at the bottom of the cancer survival charts.”

Mark Lawler, Professor of Digital Health at Queen’s University Belfast and Chair of Lancet Oncology’s European Groundshot Cancer Committee, said: “These results are extremely disappointing, but unfortunately not unexpected. How can we achieve better cancer outcomes if we don’t have a specific strategy?

“It goes against international best practices. Consistency in cancer management has been shown to be associated with better cancer outcomes. What is urgently needed is a detailed, standalone cancer strategy, focused on key issues such as early diagnosis and better access to treatment, and supported by significant resources.