UK’s cancer death crisis

‘Deadly six’ survival among worst of 33 nations

AROUND 8,000 people die every year because Britain has some of the worst survival rates for the six most deadly cancers.

Damning analysis shows out of 33 comparable countries the UK comes 28th for five-year survival for both stomach and lung cancer.

It is 26th for pancreatic cancer, 25th for brain, 21st for liver and 16th for oesophageal.

Anna Jewell, chair of the Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce, which compiled the figures, said: “People diagnosed with a less survivable cancer are already fighting against the odds.

“The figures we’re sharing show that people in the UK have even worse prospects than those in comparable countries.” Experts analysed the six cancers with an average five-year survival rate in Britain of just 16%.

Most are diagnosed too late for the NHS to try curative treatment.

More than 90,000 are identified each year with more than 67,000 dying, about 40% of cancer deaths.

Countries with the best five-year survival included South Korea, Belgium, the US and Australia.

The report found if UK survival rates equalled these countries, more than 8,000 would be saved a year.

The poor figures are likely due to delayed diagnosis and slow access to treatment.

Prof Angus Dalgleish, of St George’s, University of London, said: “We’re witnessing people who’ve had symptoms, tried to get tests and been cancelled two or three times.

“By the time it’s sorted, they’re being treated for a stage three or stage four cancer when it should have been stage two, potentially completely curable.”

NHS England said data was from 2010 to 2014. A spokeswoman added: “Survival has never been higher, and the NHS continues to accelerate ways to improve survival for all cancers.” She advised people to contact their GP if they had a suspect symptom.