Comment EDITOR’S COMMENTwith LOUISE FRAMPTON THE CLINICAL SERVICES JOURNAL Editor


Louise Frampton louiseframpton@stepcomms.com


Technical Editor Kate Woodhead


Journal Administration Katy Cockle katycockle@stepcomms.com


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STEP COMMUNICATIONS ISSN No. 1478-5641


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Concerns raised over stalled progress on cancer


At the time of writing this, the King had just announced that he was being treated for cancer, reminding us all how cancer can touch everyone’s lives. According to figures from the charity, Cancer Research UK, 1 in 2 of people in the UK will get cancer. Against a back drop of media reports of King Charles’ diagnosis, World Cancer Day was also taking place and the charity, Cancer Research UK, had just published a major report (Cancer in the UK: Overview 2024.) With the spotlight placed firmly on this major health issue, over the past month, it seemed to be a pertinent time to consider: how exactly are we doing in the UK when it comes to cancer diagnosis and survival? The good news is that there has been huge progress on cancer in the last 50 years. In 2018, half (50%) of people diagnosed with cancer in the UK were expected to survive their disease for 10 years or more, compared to around a quarter (24%) in the early 1970s. The bad news is that Cancer Research UK’s latest analysis suggests that this progress has slowed. Survival increased three to five times faster between 1970 and 2000, compared to the improvement since 2010. Meanwhile, the charity pointed out that cancer survival for common cancers in the UK is lagging behind comparable countries. Cancer Research UK also reported that targets around cancer waiting times are being missed. It stated that: l 74.2% of people were diagnosed, or had cancer ruled out, within 28 days of an urgent referral in December 2023. The target is 75% and has never been met since its introduction in October 2021.


l Only 65.9% of people in England received their diagnosis and started their first treatment within two months (or 62 days) of an urgent referral in December 2023. The target is 85%.


l 91.1% of people started treatment within 31 days of doctors deciding a treatment plan in December 2023. The target is 96%.


The roll-out of Community Diagnostic Centres will have a key role going forward in tackling waiting lists and this edition looks at both the ‘triumphs and challenges’ in delivering this strategy, as highlighted in an All-Party Parliamentary Group investigation. Services must have the necessary investment in diagnostic equipment and the NHS workforce, while the MTG also highlights the need to ensure the NHS has access to the latest technologies and innovations going forward. However, there is some light at the end of the tunnel – breakthroughs in artificial


intelligence have the potential to improve diagnosis and speed up workflows in the future. The Government has also announced the world’s largest trial of a revolutionary new blood test (Galleri) that can detect more than 50 types of cancer before symptoms appear. There are some exciting breakthroughs emerging that could make a significant impact, but


better access to diagnostics and treatment are just part of the solution. As Cancer Research UK points out, there is a need to shift from treating ill health to preventing more cancer cases in the first place. Over a third of cancers are believed to be preventable. The HPV vaccine has been a huge success story for preventing cervical cancer, but significant efforts are still required to tackle the burden of other preventable cancers, especially those related to obesity and tobacco consumption. Furthermore, over 30,000 extra cases of cancer in the UK each year are attributable to socio-economic variation, and survival is worse for the most deprived groups (Source: Cancer in the UK 2020: Socio-economic deprivation, Cancer Research UK). While it is likely that cancer will touch the lives of many of us, the outcome may differ widely


according to our socio-economic status. Ultimately, this is a social injustice that the next government must make a priority.


louiseframpton@stepcomms.com Get in touch and give us your views, email me:


March 2024 I www.clinicalservicesjournal.com 5


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