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| UK 'lagging' on cancer survival | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Cancer survival in the UK is still below the European average, despite recent improvements, a report says. | Cancer survival in the UK is still below the European average, despite recent improvements, a report says. |
| Survival rates in lung, breast, prostate and colorectal cancer were lower in the UK compared with everywhere except eastern Europe. | Survival rates in lung, breast, prostate and colorectal cancer were lower in the UK compared with everywhere except eastern Europe. |
| The Eurocare studies of 23 countries looked at the outcome of 2.7m new cases between 1995 and 1999. | The Eurocare studies of 23 countries looked at the outcome of 2.7m new cases between 1995 and 1999. |
| Government cancer "tsar" Mike Richards said poor results in the UK had been due to delays spotting the disease. | Government cancer "tsar" Mike Richards said poor results in the UK had been due to delays spotting the disease. |
| The studies, published in the Lancet Oncology journal, are the largest international projects to compare the survival of patients from 11 different cancers. | The studies, published in the Lancet Oncology journal, are the largest international projects to compare the survival of patients from 11 different cancers. |
| See the main results | See the main results |
| They reveal wide differences in death rates from both rare and common types of cancer. | They reveal wide differences in death rates from both rare and common types of cancer. |
| Our concerns illustrate the considerable challenges that now face the UK government if it is to make the NHS work efficiently and effectively Editorial, Lancet Oncology class="" href="/1/hi/health/6956446.stm">Why the UK is struggling | |
| The best performers are Nordic countries such as Sweden and Norway and central European countries. | The best performers are Nordic countries such as Sweden and Norway and central European countries. |
| Ranked just beneath them are south European countries, and lower still is the UK, followed by Eastern European countries. | Ranked just beneath them are south European countries, and lower still is the UK, followed by Eastern European countries. |
| While death rates have fallen in the UK, they have also fallen in the rest of Europe. | While death rates have fallen in the UK, they have also fallen in the rest of Europe. |
| Some eastern European countries almost matched the UK's performance despite spending less than a third of the UK's health budget per head of population. | Some eastern European countries almost matched the UK's performance despite spending less than a third of the UK's health budget per head of population. |
| Overall, for men Sweden had the best survival rates with 60% of cancer patients alive five years after diagnosis, compared to between 40% and 50% among the UK countries. | Overall, for men Sweden had the best survival rates with 60% of cancer patients alive five years after diagnosis, compared to between 40% and 50% among the UK countries. |
| For women, Sweden and Iceland were top on 62% with Wales, England and Northern Ireland just below the European average of 56%, while Scotland was among the worse on 48% | For women, Sweden and Iceland were top on 62% with Wales, England and Northern Ireland just below the European average of 56%, while Scotland was among the worse on 48% |
| Delayed diagnosis | Delayed diagnosis |
| An editorial in the Lancet Oncology questioned whether the NHS Cancer Plan, launched to tackle poor survival rates in the UK, was working. | An editorial in the Lancet Oncology questioned whether the NHS Cancer Plan, launched to tackle poor survival rates in the UK, was working. |
| "Eurocare is an important indicator of oncology provision in Europe, giving insight into healthcare effectiveness and the improvements needed. | "Eurocare is an important indicator of oncology provision in Europe, giving insight into healthcare effectiveness and the improvements needed. |
| "Our concerns illustrate the considerable challenges that now face the UK government if it is to make the NHS work efficiently and effectively." | "Our concerns illustrate the considerable challenges that now face the UK government if it is to make the NHS work efficiently and effectively." |
| Professor Richards conceded that while some of the data from European countries could be flawed, this was unlikely to account for all of the differences between countries. | Professor Richards conceded that while some of the data from European countries could be flawed, this was unlikely to account for all of the differences between countries. |
| "The findings show that many more lives could be saved if the outcomes in all countries were brought up to the standards of the best countries." | "The findings show that many more lives could be saved if the outcomes in all countries were brought up to the standards of the best countries." |
| He added: "The poor results from the UK were attributable mainly to patients having more advanced disease at diagnosis than patients in other European countries." | He added: "The poor results from the UK were attributable mainly to patients having more advanced disease at diagnosis than patients in other European countries." |
| 'Must ensure access' | 'Must ensure access' |
| The NHS Cancer Plan was launched in 2000, and promised an increase in specialist staff and equipment to tackle the delays in diagnosing and treating cancer. | The NHS Cancer Plan was launched in 2000, and promised an increase in specialist staff and equipment to tackle the delays in diagnosing and treating cancer. |
| Strict targets on the waiting times for scans and appointments were set. | Strict targets on the waiting times for scans and appointments were set. |
| Professor Richard Sullivan, Cancer Research UK's director of clinical programmes, said the figures showed the plan was beginning to make a difference. | Professor Richard Sullivan, Cancer Research UK's director of clinical programmes, said the figures showed the plan was beginning to make a difference. |
| But he added: "Cancer is still not being diagnosed early enough in all cases. And we need to ensure that patients have access to the best surgery, radiotherapy and other treatments. | But he added: "Cancer is still not being diagnosed early enough in all cases. And we need to ensure that patients have access to the best surgery, radiotherapy and other treatments. |
| "This study shows that cancer is certainly not a 'ticked box'. We need a sustained effort to beat the disease." | "This study shows that cancer is certainly not a 'ticked box'. We need a sustained effort to beat the disease." |
| 5-YEAR SURVIVAL RATES FOR ALL CANCERS Countries grouped then ordered by total national expenditure on health | 5-YEAR SURVIVAL RATES FOR ALL CANCERS Countries grouped then ordered by total national expenditure on health |
| Back to link | Back to link |
| Do you agree with the findings of this report? If you have been affected by issues in this story please use the form below to contact us. | Do you agree with the findings of this report? If you have been affected by issues in this story please use the form below to contact us. |