The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Less Survivable Cancers has published a landmark report urging the UK Government to accelerate diagnosis for six particularly deadly cancers: brain, liver, lung, pancreatic, oesophageal, and stomach cancers.
New analysis shows that doubling the rate of early diagnosis could save an estimated 7,500 lives each year.
Alarming Survival Rates
Currently, the five-year survival rate for these cancers in the UK is just 16%. They cause around 67,000 deaths annually, accounting for 42% of all cancer-related deaths. Only 28% of these cancers are diagnosed at stage one or two, compared with 54% across all cancer types.
The APPG highlights the critical role of faster diagnosis in improving treatment access and boosting survival.
Barriers to Early Detection
The report identifies several barriers:
- Vague and non-specific symptoms.
- Slow and inconsistent pathways to diagnostic tests.
- Lack of national screening and surveillance programmes for high-risk groups.
- Chronic underinvestment in research.
Recommendations for Government Action
The report outlines 12 key recommendations:
- Invest in Research and Detection Tools – Support GPs with better tools to identify symptoms of less survivable cancers.
- Roll Out Innovative Tests – Pilot new detection tests in diagnostic pathways.
- Raise Public Awareness – Run campaigns to highlight the symptoms of these cancers.
- Develop a National Strategy – Ensure comprehensive commissioning and diagnostic capacity, including training GPs to recognise vague symptoms.
- Expand Access Points – Pilot self-referral mechanisms and pharmacy referrals with Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) for consistent implementation.
- Direct Access Pathways for Brain Tumours – Address limitations in existing urgent referral pathways.
- Centralised Case-Finding – Identify high-risk individuals across multiple cancer types.
- Surveillance Programmes – Include hereditary conditions like BRCA, Lynch Syndrome, and familial pancreatic cancer.
- Support Testing of Precursors – Expand programmes for liver health checks, HIV, Hep B, and Hep C testing.
- Standardised Observational Studies – Collect consistent clinical datasets and enable genomic profiling.
- Invest in WGS Capacity – Address storage and operational challenges in Whole Genome Sequencing.
- Appoint a Government Lead – Coordinate national strategy, research, and Centres of Excellence for less survivable cancers.
Expert Voices
Paulette Hamilton MP, Chair of the APPG, said:
“We are at a crucial moment for transforming patient outcomes. Achieving faster diagnosis for these devastating cancers is finally within reach.”
Alfie Bailey-Bearfield, Chair of the Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce, added:
“Late diagnosis costs lives. We must invest in research and innovative detection tests to give every patient timely access to the best care. The National Cancer Plan and Rare Cancers Bill offer a real opportunity, and the Government must act.”
Paula Chadwick, Chief Executive of Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, said:
“We are seeing incredible advancements in survival for other cancers. Now it is our turn. The Government must commit to improving early detection of brain, liver, pancreatic, oesophageal, stomach, and lung cancer.”
About the APPG on Less Survivable Cancers
The APPG is a cross-party parliamentary group chaired by Paulette Hamilton MP, with over 20 MPs and Peers committed to improving survival for brain, liver, lung, pancreatic, oesophageal, and stomach cancers.
For more information, visit: APPG on Less Survivable Cancers.