The National Health Service (NHS) in England has reported a significant rise in the proportion of patients who are being diagnosed in the early stages.
As per the latest data, nearly three in five patients with 13 of the most common cancers, including breast, prostate, and lung, are now identified at stages one or two, which is crucial for more effective treatment.
The NHS has seen a 2.7% point increase in early cancer diagnoses compared to pre-pandemic levels.
Between September 2023 and August 2024, 120,958 out of 206,038 common cancers were detected early.
This improvement corresponds to an expected additional 7,000 patients diagnosed at an early stage.
The advancement follows a concerted effort by the NHS over the past two years to encourage millions to seek potentially life-saving checks.
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By GlobalDataThe NHS has particularly focused on those at higher risk due to hereditary or lifestyle factors.
Innovative initiatives such as the NHS Lung Health Check and Liver Health Programmes have played a significant role.
These programmes utilise mobile scanning trucks and vans that visit community hubs, offering in-depth checks in accessible locations.
The NHS’ efforts have included national awareness campaigns and unique initiatives, such as placing messages on urinal mats in pubs and on a double-decker bus touring cancer hotspots, among others.
NHS England National Clinical Director for Cancer Peter Johnson said: “If anyone is worried they might have signs or symptoms of cancer, please encourage them to get checked – the NHS is here for people and wants to see them at the earliest opportunity.”
The NHS Lung Health Check programme, launched in 2019, has already led to over 5,000 earlier lung cancer diagnoses.
Furthermore, the past year has seen a record number of people tested for cancer.
More than three million individuals received urgent cancer checks from November 2023 to October 2024, marking an increase from previous years.
