Headline message

Cancer will be diagnosed earlier

Detailed goal

Two-thirds of all cancer cases will be diagnosed at a stage when the cancer can be successfully treated.

Background information and strategies

How we will measure this

Every three years, we will analyse cancer registry data to determine what proportion of the most common cancers are diagnosed at a stage where successful treatment is likely. This will be done initially using data from the Eastern Cancer Registry Information Centre.

We will push Government to ensure that comprehensive data for the whole of the UK is available by 2010.

The current situation

Around 45% of cancer cases are currently diagnosed at a stage when the cancer can be successfully treated.

For most cancers in the analysis, we included people diagnosed at stages 1 and 2. For oesophageal and lung cancers, we have included only stage 1 patients, and for Hodgkin's lymphoma, melanoma, breast and testicular cancer, we have included patients diagnosed at stages 1, 2 and 3.

We will achieve this goal by:

• Lobbying Government to collect better information on cancer patients across the UK, so we know more about cancer stage at the time of diagnosis
• Lobbying Government to implement policies aimed at increasing public and GP understanding of the early symptoms of cancer, to promote early presentation and early referral to an appropriate specialist
• Supporting research to identify the reasons why people delay reporting symptoms to their doctors
• Ensuring that research ideas are developed into new methods of screening and diagnosis
• Promoting early symptom awareness through targeted initiatives
• Promoting the best screening and early detection strategies to Government, commercial organizations and those responsible for cancer care.

We hope this work will also be supported by:

Other research organisations

• Conducting research alongside or in partnership with Cancer Research UK
• Developing common standards for processing, handling and sharing data

Government

• Implementing new screening programmes that have proved to be cost effective
• Increasing public awareness of early symptoms of cancer
• Implementing strategies to ensure prompt GP referral of patients with possible symptoms of cancer
• Providing resources for accurate, early diagnosis of all cancers throughout the UK

Academia, industry and regulatory authorities

• Developing common methods and standards for the development of new ways of diagnosing cancer