Survival rates for cancer in Britain are worse than other countries in Western Europe despite record investments in care. Penny Marshall asks if we will ever catch up?
Programme 1 In Catching Up With Cancer, leading cancer experts reveal that, while the rest of the EU was investing in cancer therapies during the 1980s and 1990s, Britain was already falling behind despite huge scientific advances in radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
With interviews from medical advisors, Penny Marshall looks at the failure to develop cancer services in the UK. The first report to address the problem was in 1995 and followed up by Cancer Tsar Mike Richards' ambitious plan of 2000.
In August 2007 EUROCARE, an EU funded study, published a set of data which suggested that despite increased spending, cancer survival rates in England and Scotland were still far behind many other European countries. Will the new Cancer Reform Strategy address the gaps?
In December of 2007, Cancer Tsar Mike Richards launched the new cancer reform strategy aiming at a world class service. But is this too little too late? Will the good intentions be lost in the bureaucracy of the NHS?
Penny Marshall discovers how other European countries have turned their cancer services around. In many parts of Europe patients have open access to drugs, more advanced technology and shorter waiting times. Why doesn't Britain adopt these straightforward approaches to increasing survival rates?
New drugs, surgery and radiotherapy techniques all promise treatments and even cures for cancer. Will Britain ever invest enough to make them available for all, or will we see the start of a two tier system? Penny Marshall finds out in Catching Up with Cancer.
cali wilson kent I have recently been treated for breast cancer. Over the last year I have had two ops ,chemo and radiotherapy. I count myself as a very lucky woman as the treatment and care that I have received from The Princess royal Hospital 'Cromwell Unit' has been outstanding. I felt that I could trust the proffesional judgements I was given and felt that every effort was made on my behalf. If every cancer patient had the good fortune to be cared for by Mr Harries and his team there would be no complaints. The stategies they have developed to accomodate patients like me should be learned from ..
Jonathan UK The whole process of diagnosis needs to be changed. Doctors are completely out of their depth, especially where unusual forms of cancer exist. By the time they have treated the symptoms with medicines that you could buy at Sainsbury's it is too late. The point made in Programme 2 is the key one, it has got to be accepted that more readily available access to cancer specialists is critical and tests that produce negative results a necessary part of saving peoples lives.If a doctor cannot bring about an improvement immediately (and without swamping the symptoms with painkillers) then quick referral to a specialist is essential.
Jackie Bedfordshire Our child died of a brain tumor. I think GPs are very slow to react and refer to specialists and adopt a wait and see attitude. We were at the mercy of our GP who adopted a wait and see attitude. Without a referral from them how do you access specialist services without paying to see someone privately. Not everyone can afford to do this or do not have private medical insurance. Why is it that other poorer countries have better facilities than us?
Grace Ingram My husband recently had to attend a Mobile Diagnostic Unit. His illness is not cancer related but I feel what we learned could assist. The Unit was due to be closed the following day as it had been decided they were too expensive. These mobile units are ideal for an early diagnosis of cancer or any other illness and part of the problem is that cancer is not caught early enough. If it is true that mobile units are too expensive then why not station them at suitable places (we were seen at Moseley Rugby Club Ground, Birmingham, but could have gone to Birmingham City Football Club Ground). 0rganisation such as football clubs could be asked to have the units on their premises for a low rental and so many people in the various areas could be seen very quickly.My husband had an ultrasound scan and the stenographer was quickly able to reassure him that there was no problem. The relief was tremendous and to have such a quick diagnosis was wonderful. I do write with a vested interest too as my brother-in-law is currently undergoing treatment for prostate cancer. He has been one of the fortunate ones but there are so many who are not.Grace IngramSolihull, West Midlands
carolyn morris, sussex what a pity you've not highlighted the role patients have played in creating the cancer reform strategy.i've been one of many: one group was chaired by a patient. Of course there are issues about implementing all this, but give NHS & Mike Richards credit for involving patient groups, listening to us and acting on what we've said. And the remarkable thing? there's little dissent about what needs to change.
Richard Williams, Madrid My mother just died of breast cancer in September. She was diagnosed in 2001, with metastases in several bones, including cervical vertebrae 1 and 2 - the cancer was detected because the bones broke, not in routine testing. The fact that the cancer had spread so dramatically demonstrates that it was well advanced by then. In 1998, she had had a mammogram, and was given the all clear. Only in 2001 did she discover, that the mammogram was taken of the wrong breast. She always felt she was killed by the incompetence of health professionals. If her assessment was correct, and is true of many of the thousands of people who die of cancer annually in the UK, this is a national disgrace on the scale of the accidental infection of patients with HIV and Hepatitis C.
Lucy Hertfordshire My son died aged 5 and a half months from a brain tumor last june. As a medical professional myself i knew something was seriously wrong but was not taken seriously. We saw 14 different doctors in 4 different hospitals, Gp surgeries and our health visitor. It was an agency nurse who finally listened to us, she had worked on a neurology ward previously. Our son was diagnosed and died 5 days later. We are following up a complaint with various hospital trusts and PCTs and trying to instigate change of practice. The various people involved, particularly Doctors and Management are making this a very difficult task and show little respect for our grieving process.Many of the things that happened to our son should never have happened and it just highlights the inadequacies of the NHS and many of those who are involved that continue with poor assessment skills, poor referrals, wrong diagnosis, and generally poor practice with regards to basic medical duty of care.
sarah orme, glastonbury somerset my husband died recently of cancer of the oesophragus, he presented his symptoms nearly seven months before he was given an endoscophy by which time his cancer was out of control. There were very few options offered to himin this country. He had treatments in Germany which he could not have here in the UK. The approach in Germany was much more holistic than here, they gave him hope which he was clearly not given here. Mark was only 46 when he dide, a non smoker, a fit and healthy man.Both his parents and his uncle died of cancer. Mark survived for 14 months from the day he was diagnosed, I am sure he would have survived for less time had he not gone to Germany for his treatment. Early diagnosis of this the fastest growing cancer in the uk is essential if we are to boost survival rates.
roland pascoe uk I had cancer when I was 24 that was back in 1984.I had 9 months of treatment of 6 lots of chemo and 2 ops. I survived physically, the emotional side of it blew my life apart.The great differance between now and then?Yorkshire where I was treated had one cancer support group, bacup had only just started, and as for any counselling on NHS forget it.So things have improved but they could still be better.
Nick - UK We use the wrong treatments - chemo & radiotherapy are mostly palliative not curative. European doctors are more open to alternatives. Canceractive is a good place to start on the web.
Lesley McDowell, Dorset My mother had three forms of cancer, my father had lung cancer twice, 15 years apart and I've had two different kinds of cancer. In every case we knew something was very wrong but trying to get the Drs to take us seriously was the problem. My father, who hadn't been near a Dr in 26 years before his first bout of cancer was accused of malingering and it was only because the receptionist knew him and badgered the Dr. that he was referred for tests. It is obvious to me that the problem is with the diagnosis not the eventual treatment, although there is room for improvement there when compared to most of the rest of the civillised world.The attitude seems to be "We're not sure what's wrong with you, take these pills (thus masking the symptoms)and we'll see what develops." Unfortunately for cancer sufferers what develops is often then too far gone to be treatable!
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cali wilson kent
I have recently been treated for breast cancer. Over the last year I have had two ops ,chemo and radiotherapy. I count myself as a very lucky woman as the treatment and care that I have received from The Princess royal Hospital 'Cromwell Unit' has been outstanding. I felt that I could trust the proffesional judgements I was given and felt that every effort was made on my behalf. If every cancer patient had the good fortune to be cared for by Mr Harries and his team there would be no complaints. The stategies they have developed to accomodate patients like me should be learned from ..
Jonathan UK
The whole process of diagnosis needs to be changed. Doctors are completely out of their depth, especially where unusual forms of cancer exist. By the time they have treated the symptoms with medicines that you could buy at Sainsbury's it is too late. The point made in Programme 2 is the key one, it has got to be accepted that more readily available access to cancer specialists is critical and tests that produce negative results a necessary part of saving peoples lives.If a doctor cannot bring about an improvement immediately (and without swamping the symptoms with painkillers) then quick referral to a specialist is essential.
Jackie Bedfordshire
Our child died of a brain tumor. I think GPs are very slow to react and refer to specialists and adopt a wait and see attitude. We were at the mercy of our GP who adopted a wait and see attitude. Without a referral from them how do you access specialist services without paying to see someone privately. Not everyone can afford to do this or do not have private medical insurance. Why is it that other poorer countries have better facilities than us?
Grace Ingram
My husband recently had to attend a Mobile Diagnostic Unit. His illness is not cancer related but I feel what we learned could assist. The Unit was due to be closed the following day as it had been decided they were too expensive. These mobile units are ideal for an early diagnosis of cancer or any other illness and part of the problem is that cancer is not caught early enough. If it is true that mobile units are too expensive then why not station them at suitable places (we were seen at Moseley Rugby Club Ground, Birmingham, but could have gone to Birmingham City Football Club Ground). 0rganisation such as football clubs could be asked to have the units on their premises for a low rental and so many people in the various areas could be seen very quickly.My husband had an ultrasound scan and the stenographer was quickly able to reassure him that there was no problem. The relief was tremendous and to have such a quick diagnosis was wonderful. I do write with a vested interest too as my brother-in-law is currently undergoing treatment for prostate cancer. He has been one of the fortunate ones but there are so many who are not.Grace IngramSolihull, West Midlands
carolyn morris, sussex
what a pity you've not highlighted the role patients have played in creating the cancer reform strategy.i've been one of many: one group was chaired by a patient. Of course there are issues about implementing all this, but give NHS & Mike Richards credit for involving patient groups, listening to us and acting on what we've said. And the remarkable thing? there's little dissent about what needs to change.
Richard Williams, Madrid
My mother just died of breast cancer in September. She was diagnosed in 2001, with metastases in several bones, including cervical vertebrae 1 and 2 - the cancer was detected because the bones broke, not in routine testing. The fact that the cancer had spread so dramatically demonstrates that it was well advanced by then. In 1998, she had had a mammogram, and was given the all clear. Only in 2001 did she discover, that the mammogram was taken of the wrong breast. She always felt she was killed by the incompetence of health professionals. If her assessment was correct, and is true of many of the thousands of people who die of cancer annually in the UK, this is a national disgrace on the scale of the accidental infection of patients with HIV and Hepatitis C.
Lucy Hertfordshire
My son died aged 5 and a half months from a brain tumor last june. As a medical professional myself i knew something was seriously wrong but was not taken seriously. We saw 14 different doctors in 4 different hospitals, Gp surgeries and our health visitor. It was an agency nurse who finally listened to us, she had worked on a neurology ward previously. Our son was diagnosed and died 5 days later. We are following up a complaint with various hospital trusts and PCTs and trying to instigate change of practice. The various people involved, particularly Doctors and Management are making this a very difficult task and show little respect for our grieving process.Many of the things that happened to our son should never have happened and it just highlights the inadequacies of the NHS and many of those who are involved that continue with poor assessment skills, poor referrals, wrong diagnosis, and generally poor practice with regards to basic medical duty of care.
sarah orme, glastonbury somerset
my husband died recently of cancer of the oesophragus, he presented his symptoms nearly seven months before he was given an endoscophy by which time his cancer was out of control. There were very few options offered to himin this country. He had treatments in Germany which he could not have here in the UK. The approach in Germany was much more holistic than here, they gave him hope which he was clearly not given here. Mark was only 46 when he dide, a non smoker, a fit and healthy man.Both his parents and his uncle died of cancer. Mark survived for 14 months from the day he was diagnosed, I am sure he would have survived for less time had he not gone to Germany for his treatment. Early diagnosis of this the fastest growing cancer in the uk is essential if we are to boost survival rates.
roland pascoe uk
I had cancer when I was 24 that was back in 1984.I had 9 months of treatment of 6 lots of chemo and 2 ops. I survived physically, the emotional side of it blew my life apart.The great differance between now and then?Yorkshire where I was treated had one cancer support group, bacup had only just started, and as for any counselling on NHS forget it.So things have improved but they could still be better.
Nick - UK
We use the wrong treatments - chemo & radiotherapy are mostly palliative not curative. European doctors are more open to alternatives. Canceractive is a good place to start on the web.
Lesley McDowell, Dorset
My mother had three forms of cancer, my father had lung cancer twice, 15 years apart and I've had two different kinds of cancer. In every case we knew something was very wrong but trying to get the Drs to take us seriously was the problem. My father, who hadn't been near a Dr in 26 years before his first bout of cancer was accused of malingering and it was only because the receptionist knew him and badgered the Dr. that he was referred for tests. It is obvious to me that the problem is with the diagnosis not the eventual treatment, although there is room for improvement there when compared to most of the rest of the civillised world.The attitude seems to be "We're not sure what's wrong with you, take these pills (thus masking the symptoms)and we'll see what develops." Unfortunately for cancer sufferers what develops is often then too far gone to be treatable!