Too many cancers are still being diagnosed too late Health Foundation response to ONS cancer survival statistics

Commenting on latest data by the ONS on one-year and five-year net cancer survival for adults in England, Ruth Thorlby, Assistant Director of Policy at the Health Foundation, said: 

'The continuing trend of improvement in cancer survival reflects sustained effort and investment over the past two decades to improve cancer care in England.

'However, today’s data show that too many cancers are still being diagnosed too late – almost half of all lung cancers are diagnosed at the most advanced stage. The Prime Minister has made an ambitious commitment to improve survival through earlier diagnosis, so that an extra 55,000 people survive cancer for at least five years after diagnosis by 2028. But there is much more to be done if England is to improve survival in line with this pledge.

'Delivering the Prime Minister’s commitment will require three things: capital investment for additional diagnostic equipment, such as MRI and CT scanners, significant increases in the cancer workforce to diagnose, treat and support cancer patients, and help for staff to improve complex services and get the most out of new advances in cancer care’.

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Susannah McIntyre
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