It was with disappointment that I read of the cancer outcomes for the period 2000 – 2014 (1) . However, all is not lost. A statistical bulletin released on 29.11.17, from The Office of National Statistics “Index of cancer survival for Clinical Commissioning Groups in England: adults diagnosed 2000 to 2015 and followed up to 2016” (2) shows a much more positive picture: “The one-year all-cancer survival index for England increased steadily from 61.2% for patients diagnosed in 2000 to 72.3% in 2015.” Furthermore, “The inequality gap in the cancer survival index between the highest and lowest CCG in England has shrunk since 2000.”
Further data from the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service (NCRAS) shows that the 1-year average of proportion of cancers diagnosed in England at an early stage has increased from 44.0% in 2012 Q4 to 52.5% in 2016 Q1 (3).
The above data would suggest that a combination of improved public awareness, increasingly appropriate referrals from Primary Care and increased workload by our diagnostic colleagues, has improved outcomes and reduced variation across CCGs.
To extend these improvements further, more resourcing of the NHS in terms of investment and workforce are needed.
Richard Roope, RCGP and Cancer Research UK Clinical Champion for Cancer
Competing Interests: Clinical Champion role is funded by Cancer Research UK
Rapid Response:
Improving cancer outcomes
Dear Sir,
It was with disappointment that I read of the cancer outcomes for the period 2000 – 2014 (1) . However, all is not lost. A statistical bulletin released on 29.11.17, from The Office of National Statistics “Index of cancer survival for Clinical Commissioning Groups in England: adults diagnosed 2000 to 2015 and followed up to 2016” (2) shows a much more positive picture: “The one-year all-cancer survival index for England increased steadily from 61.2% for patients diagnosed in 2000 to 72.3% in 2015.” Furthermore, “The inequality gap in the cancer survival index between the highest and lowest CCG in England has shrunk since 2000.”
Further data from the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service (NCRAS) shows that the 1-year average of proportion of cancers diagnosed in England at an early stage has increased from 44.0% in 2012 Q4 to 52.5% in 2016 Q1 (3).
The above data would suggest that a combination of improved public awareness, increasingly appropriate referrals from Primary Care and increased workload by our diagnostic colleagues, has improved outcomes and reduced variation across CCGs.
To extend these improvements further, more resourcing of the NHS in terms of investment and workforce are needed.
Richard Roope, RCGP and Cancer Research UK Clinical Champion for Cancer
Competing Interests: Clinical Champion role is funded by Cancer Research UK
(1) Cancer inequalities 17.3.18. BMJ 2018;360;k764
(2) www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditio... (last accessed 18.3.18)
(3) www.ncin.org.uk/cancer_type_and_topic_specific_work/topic_specific_work/... (last accessed 18.3.18)
Competing interests: Clinical Champion for Cancer Role is funded by Cancer Research UK