Getting cancer diagnosed early can improve a patient’s survival chances by up to three times, according to an analysis published today.
The findings are the latest to be produced as part of pressure to tackle the UK’s poor record in detecting cancer.
Analysts say this is the main reason why the UK has higher death rates than other wealthy countries.
Proposals to improve diagnosis in a recently published cancer strategy include more public information and giving GPs better access to diagnostic equipment.
The new research examines survival of patients diagnosed with eight common cancers – those of the bladder, bowel, breast, cervix, womb, ovaries and testicles together with melanoma.
About 27% of these patients are identified at an advanced stage – and just 25% of these live for ten years. The study says that 80% survive for ten years when the disease is spotted in stages one and two.
The findings were published by Cancer Research UK.
Sara Hiom, from the charity, said: "These figures show the prize on offer if we can diagnose more cancers earlier. And, if the Government acts on the recommendations in the new cancer strategy, we can increase the number of people diagnosed at an early stage across all cancer types – from around half of patients now to more than 60 per cent by 2020 – improving the outlook for thousands of people with the disease.
“Early diagnosis and ensuring patients have access to the best treatment is essential to further improving survival from cancer.
"We need increased funding in NHS services and more research to develop tests to spot cancer sooner, and help more people to beat the disease.”
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