More than half of patients diagnosed with the six ‘least survivable’ cancers die within a year in the UK, researchers have revealed.
The new analysis found 58 per cent of people in England diagnosed with a cancer of the lung, liver, brain, oesophagus, pancreas or stomach will die from their disease within one year.
In comparison, roughly 30 per cent of sufferers of all cancers, on average, won’t survive a year.
Survival statistics are even more bleak in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, according to the data —released by the Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce.
In these regions, more than 60 per cent of deaths occur within a year of diagnosis.
More than 90,000 people are diagnosed with one of the six less survivable cancers in the UK every year and they account for nearly half of all common cancer deaths, according to Cancer Research UK.
Often these cancers are diagnosed in the later stages, with only 28 per cent of patients in the UK diagnosed early on in the disease, when it is more treatable.
That’s in comparison to 54 per cent of all other cancers diagnosed at stage 1 or 2.
Late-stage diagnosis has significant effects and limits the potential for treatments that could significantly improve survival rates, experts warn.
Cheryle Brandon, 52 from Surrey, was diagnosed with stage 4 oesophageal cancer in December 2022.
She said: ‘My symptoms started with reflux and indigestion and my doctor gave me medicine to reduce the amount of acid in my stomach. At first, I felt better, but around six months later I started to get chest pain, it became difficult to swallow and I started choking when I ate.
‘Further tests revealed I had oesophageal cancer which they thought had also spread to my lungs, liver, voice box and lymph nodes. My tumour was inoperable (because it was too close to my heart), but remarkably, after gruelling courses of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, I was declared cancer free.
‘Now I’m taking a day at a time and helping to raise awareness of this extremely aggressive disease.’
Harry Potter star Alan Rickman was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2015 and died a year later at the age of 69.
American actor Patrick Swayze also died of pancreatic cancer in 2009, just over a year and a half after he was diagnosed.
Similarly, The Wanted singer Tom Parker was diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer — a deadly glioblastoma — in October 2020 and died on March 30, 2022.
Despite the prevalence of these less survivable cancers they receive a fraction of research funding in comparison to the more survivable diseases, according to Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce.
The campaign group is now calling for government-level commitments to prioritise early detection, research funding and the development of new treatment options for these cancers.
Anna Jewell, Chair of the Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce, said: ‘The reality that more than half of people diagnosed with a less survivable cancer will not survive beyond a year is simply unacceptable.
‘It is essential that all UK governments take immediate steps to develop and implement national action plans dedicated to less survivable cancers to improve the outcomes for patients with these devastating diseases.
‘We can change the narrative and improve one year survival by setting specific targets, prioritising early diagnosis and improving treatment pathways to give every patient a fighting chance.’
Paulette Hamilton MP, who is this week starting a new All Party Parliamentary Group on less survivable cancers, said: ‘The less survivable cancers have been neglected for far too long and it’s time to ensure that they receive the attention they deserve.
‘By launching the All Party Parliamentary Group on Less Survivable Cancers, we are taking a vital step towards improving outcomes and fostering hope for thousands of patients and their families.’
