Tim Loughton joined Cancer Research UK scientists in Westminster to find out more about the charity’s inspiring new plan to accelerate progress and help save more lives in the South East. Cancer Research UK’s ambition is that within 20 years three in four of all cancer patients diagnosed will survive at least ten years.
There have been major advances in the fight against cancer over the last 40 years. Two in four people diagnosed with cancer today in the UK will survive their disease for at least ten years, compared to just one in four in the early 1970s. Cancer Research UK believes much more can be done to improve early diagnosis and ensure that all patients get the best treatment possible.
East Worthing and Shoreham is part of the NHS Coastal West Sussex Clinical Commissioning Group. Within that area, referral to a specialist and waiting times for diagnostic tests are better than the English average, as is the number of people attending bowel screenings. The number of diagnoses in emergency situations is below average (which means cancer is identified at earlier stages). One year survival rates, referral for treatment and patient experience are all similar to the English average but waiting times are below average.
Tim said: ‘In Adur and Worthing our services are on the whole very pleasing. Clearly though, we need to make some improvements on waiting times for radiotherapy. Until we beat cancer once and for all, we have to keep improving and the work that Cancer Research UK do is vital to that fight.’
For all statistics please see the attached PDF sheets