Ahead of World Cancer Day on Sunday, Cancer Research UK has revealed that improvements in cancer survival rates have slowed in recent years.
Despite cancer survival rates doubling since the early 1970s due to improvements in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, progress has slowed down in the last ten years.
Cancer Research UK’s Cancer in the UK: Overview 2024 report outlines the landscape of cancer survival rates, the performance of cancer services across the country, and why future work is essential to tackle the disease.
The evolution of UK cancer survival rates
In 2018, 50% of UK people diagnosed with cancer were expected to survive the disease for ten years or longer, a significant improvement from just 24% in the 1970s.
However, the new Cancer Research analysis suggests this progress is stalling, with improvements in cancer survival rates between 1970 and 2000 being five times faster than improvements since 2010.
Moreover, UK cancer survival rates for common forms of the disease are lower than those of other comparable countries.
Cancer Research UK has outlined areas of the cancer landscape that can be targeted to ramp up progress.
A shift in cancer prevention
In the UK, approximately 4 in 10 cancer cases are preventable, highlighting the urgent need to prioritise preventative measures.
By targeting key risk factors for cancer, not only can the number of cancer diagnoses be reduced, but the economy can also be bolstered and the strain on healthcare services alleviated.
Legislation to combat tobacco use
The UK Government’s commitment to raising the age of sale of tobacco is a crucial step towards a Smokefree UK.
This legislation, making it illegal to sell tobacco to those born after January 1, 2009, is imperative given tobacco’s status as the leading cause of cancer and death in the UK.
Addressing overweight and obesity
Cancer Research UK says that further action is required to tackle overweight and obesity nationwide and that urgent implementation of 2022 legislation restricting TV and online advertising of high-fat, salt, and sugar (HFSS) foods within a year of a general election is essential.
Investing in cancer services
Cancer services in the UK are strained, resulting in record wait times for diagnosis and treatment. To meet increasing demand and counter rising cancer rates, investment in diagnostic equipment and healthcare staff are advised.
Governments must prioritise early cancer diagnosis, as survival rates are significantly higher at earlier stages. Efforts should focus on increasing screening participation and promoting timely help-seeking behaviour to identify symptoms promptly.
They also explained that sustained funding for public awareness campaigns is crucial to encourage positive health behaviours and prompt action upon experiencing cancer symptoms.
Advancing cancer research
Significant progress in cancer survival is attributable to research developments. To accelerate improvements, strong political leadership is needed to secure funding for cancer research and facilitate the translation of research findings into practical applications for patient care. The charity is also calling on the government to close the funding gap that exceeds £1bn.
The recent stagnation in cancer survival rates demands renewed focus on prevention, treatment, and research. Governments must prioritise funding, legislation, and innovation to ensure progress against this pervasive disease.
