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The government in England has unveiled a new 10-year cancer strategy aiming to drastically improve survival rates. The plan targets an ambitious milestone: ensuring that by 2035, 75% of cancer patients survive for at least five years after diagnosis. Currently, the five-year survival rate stands at 60%, which reflects a lag behind other developed nations.
At the heart of the strategy lies a focus on earlier diagnosis and quicker access to treatment. While just over half of cancers today are detected at an early, more treatable stage, progress in this area has been limited over the last decade. To address this, the plan includes efforts to expand cancer screening and lower the threshold for bowel cancer investigations. Additionally, a screening program for lung cancer is being introduced, specially targeted at former smokers.
Meeting the government’s target to start treatment within 62 days of referral by 2029 is seen as a critical component of the strategy, though currently, only about 70% of patients begin treatment within this timeframe. The plan also includes a 28-day diagnostic target, which is being met, and a 31-day treatment start target, which is still being missed. Health Secretary Wes Streeting emphasized the importance of government investment, boosted by medical advances, in transforming patient outcomes. Sharing his personal experience as a kidney cancer survivor, he highlighted the need for equitable care: “Survival shouldn’t come down to who won the lottery of life.”
However, experts have voiced concerns regarding staffing shortages that could impede these goals. The Royal College of Radiologists reports a significant deficit of specialists, estimating a 30% shortfall in radiologists and 15% in clinical oncologists. Dr. Stephen Harden, the college president, stressed that achieving faster diagnosis and treatment requires sustained investment in specialist staff. Cancer Research UK’s Michelle Mitchell described the commitments as a “significant” step but noted that multiple measures are needed to close the survival gap. She pointed out that survival rates for cancers such as colon, stomach, pancreas, ovaries, and lungs remain lower in the UK compared with countries like Australia, Norway, and Canada.
In addition to improving diagnosis and treatment, the strategy outlines prevention efforts. It estimates that around 40% of cancers could be avoided through lifestyle changes. Plans include greater support for quitting smoking, enhanced access to weight loss medications, and stricter enforcement of the under-18 ban on sunbed use through mandatory ID checks. Macmillan Cancer Support’s Gemma Peters welcomed the ambitious plans, while acknowledging the existing challenges faced by patients, including delays and inadequate post-treatment support
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