Lung cancer patients in the South West missing out on surgery every year

Around 120 (119.8)* lung cancer patients in the South West may be missing out on life-saving surgery each year, according to figures released by Cancer Research UK today (Friday).

With the countdown to the General Election underway, the news comes as the charity launches a new campaign - ‘Cross Cancer Out’.

Playing on the idea of a ballot paper, it asks election candidates to back a raft of vital measures aimed at ensuring all cancer patients are diagnosed much earlier and have greater access to the best possible treatments.

Worryingly, figures for lung cancer in particular show that around 1,000** patients across England are not having operations despite their disease being diagnosed at an early stage, when surgery is more likely to be successful.

In the South West, around 2,600*** people are diagnosed with non small-cell lung cancer every year and around 400 of them have major surgery*.

Experts believe that surgery is responsible for around half of the cases where any cancer is cured. And although it is not always appropriate for every patient, it plays a significant role in improving lung cancer survival.

Cancer Research UK says the figures released today highlight why determined political action is urgently needed to help save more lives.

The charity is calling for people in South West to make sure their next MP is committed to beating cancer sooner, by emailing their election candidates at cruk.org/crosscancerout.

Alison Birkett, Cancer Research UK spokesperson for the South West, said: “We’re urging all election candidates to make a commitment to ‘Cross Cancer Out’ and help ensure no-one’s life is cut short by the disease.

“The earlier patients can be diagnosed and access the appropriate treatments they need, the more lives will be saved. So the Government will need to make both of these key priorities if it is serious about improving survival rates across all types of cancer.

“Lung cancer, in particular, is one of the hardest cancers to treat, so it’s unacceptable that so many patients in the South West are missing out on potentially life-saving surgery.

“It may not always be an option if the disease has spread, the patient decides they don’t want to undergo surgery or if they aren’t well enough for the operation. But previous research**** has suggested that some older patients who are eligible for surgery are being overlooked because of their age. It’s vital we remove any barriers so that patients who may benefit from surgery are given the option.”

The ‘Cross Cancer Out’ campaign will focus on a number of key commitments aimed at improving cancer survival in the South West and across the UK:

• Equal access to innovative radiotherapy, surgery and effective cancer drugs, including drugs targeted to patients’ tumours;
• Continued support for campaigns to raise public awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer;
• A commitment to increase participation in the national bowel cancer screening programme.

Alison Birkett added: “We know from hard-working NHS staff that already the service is at a ‘tipping point’ and overstretched, so with more and more people being diagnosed there urgently needs to be vital support and increased investment for cancer patients now and in the future.

“Cancer Research UK has been at the heart of the progress that has already seen survival rates in the UK double in the last 40 years. In order to accelerate progress and see more people beating the disease, all political parties must commit to making our NHS cancer services the best in the world.”

For more information and ways to get involved in the campaign, visit cruk.org/crosscancerout or join the conversation on twitter #CrossCancerOut.