Cancer survival rates improve

The Department of Health and Social Care has announced that cancer survival rates have improved by almost 10 per cent.

According to new figures, three in four people survive their cancer the first year after being diagnosed.

The stats show that that the overall first year survival rate has risen 9 per cent to 74.6 per cent. The one-year breast cancer survival index is now about 97 per cent and for bowel cancer the survival rate is now above 80 per cent.

Health Minister Helen Whately said: "These figures are highly encouraging and support those released earlier this year which show improved survival rates across almost all types of cancer. They are evidence of the great strides being made by the NHS, scientists and our incredible cancer charities.

"We are laser focused on fighting cancer on all fronts – prevention, diagnosis, treatment, research and funding – and have opened over 94 ‘one stop shops’ so people can have quicker access to tests, scans and checks. We are also taking a vaccine taskforce style approach to cancer research to develop new immune-based cancer therapies, including cancer vaccines, as well as producing a major conditions strategy.

"We know there is more to do and early diagnosis is crucial to improving survival rates even further. Our ambition is to diagnose 75% of cancer at an early stage by 2028 which will help save tens of thousands of lives for longer."

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