By 2020, almost half of the UK population will receive a cancer diagnosis during their lifetime1. Cancer survival rates in the UK are among the worst in Europe – not least because many people are diagnosed too late when their cancer is advanced. Richard Benyon MP is supporting the All Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer’s call for this to change.
The latest published figures show that the percentage of people in England surviving at least one year from their initial cancer diagnosis has risen from 69.3% to 70.2%. However, this is still well behind comparable international rates – in Sweden, for example, one-year cancer survival is around 82%. The figure for the local NHS Newbury and District CCG is 69%2, up from 68.4%3.
Commenting on the figures, Richard Benyon said, “The earlier cancer is diagnosed, the better the chance of surviving at least one year and surviving cancer generally. The publication of these local one-year survival rates should therefore encourage the local NHS, with the support of the wider cancer community, to promote earlier diagnosis.
“In the Newbury CCG area, 69% of people are living for a year or more after a cancer diagnosis. Yet in Sweden, the figure is 82%. More work is needed through earlier diagnosis to increase this number, as the UK has among the lowest survival rates in Europe. I have written to our CCG asking for feedback on initiatives they may be exploring such as better screening uptake, diagnostics within Primary Care, public awareness and GP training.”