Lack of research funding blamed for chasm in cancer survival rates

Scots with the six least survivable cancers have a 55 per cent less chance of living beyond five years compared to others with different forms of the disease, analysis has revealed.

Figures showed those diagnosed with pancreatic, liver, brain, lung, oesophageal or stomach cancer have a 12 per cent chance of surviving for five years or more.

Those with other forms of cancer, however, have a 67 per cent chance on average of living beyond five years.

The disparity was revealed by the Less Survivable Can- 0 Clare Adamson said the figures were ‘disgraceful’ cers Taskforce (LSCT) as it revealed its findings before MSPS at Holyrood. Five charities have joined together in the taskforce to transform the future for Scots with the six least survivable cancers to give patients a fair chance of living for longer.

The new analysis shows the six less survivable cancers cause more than half of all deaths (54 per cent) from common cancers in Scotland per year, causing close to 7,000 deaths.

LSCT said the prognosis is due to a lack of research.

Motherwell and Wishaw MSP Clare Adamson said: “It is absolutely disgraceful that in this day and age Scots diagnosed with pancreatic, liver, brain, lung, oesophageal or stomach cancer still have only a 12 per cent chance on average of living beyond five years.”