British cancer survival rates trail behind

BRITISH survival rates for a variety of cancers lag far behind many other developed countries in the European Union, finds a study released by the British Cancer support group Macmillan.

According to the report, UK figures for the survival of stomach cancer over a five year period were still worse in the UK today than they were in Austria ten years ago.

Survival rates in the UK have been improving with all forms of cancer covered by the study, but they still fall a long way behind many countries such as Italy, Finland and Norway.

Macmillan said that in many cases “people are dying needlessly,” and asked all political parties to commit to bridging the gap in treatment quality, with earlier diagnosis and better support after treatment the highest priorities.

Detailed information can be found on www.macmillan.org.uk/Aboutus/News