Early diagnosis key to cancer survival
Earlier diagnosis is the key to improving Britain’s cancer services, a new report has revealed. *
Published by the Department of Health, the report by National Cancer Director Mike Richards looked at the progress made in the first year of the government’s five-year cancer reform strategy.
‘Maintaining Momentum, Building for the Future’ listed the strategy’s achievements to date, such as the introduction of the HPV vaccine against cervical cancer, a further rollout of the bowel cancer screening programme and the launch of the National Awareness and Early Detection Initiative – highlighting the importance of early diagnosis in reducing cancer mortality rates. **
Professor Richards said: “Cancer treatment in Britain has improved vastly in recent years and we are now beginning to see the impact on our survival rates.
“Recent cancer mortality figures for under 75s show that nearly 9,000 lives will have been saved in 2007 compared with 1996 and we are on course to meet our target of a reduction of at least 20 per cent in cancer death rates by 2010.”
As well as screening, scanning can play a major part in diagnosing cancer and other serious conditions such as heart disease and brain disorders at an early, treatable stage.
Some of Westfield Health’s cash plans offer a scanning benefit, providing policyholders with fast access to MRI, CT and PET scanning facilities.
Westfield Health, which was the first health cash plan provider to offer a stand-alone MRI and CT scanning benefit, recently reached a milestone with the news that more than 100,000 of its policyholders are now covered by the benefit.
Earlier this year, internationally renowned cancer specialist Professor Karol Sikora spoke about the future of cancer care and treatment at the prestigious Westfield Health Annual Lecture entitled: ‘Cancer – A Disease of Our Time’
During his presentation, Professor Sikora said that as cancer care develops, getting the disease will no longer be a death sentence.
He said: “Every week you read about some breakthrough for cancer, some cancer vaccine, a new drug, a new scan.
“What I’ve tried to show is that everything has a cost and the real way the future will unfold will be a complex combination of technology and how much society is willing to pay for certain benefits – and ultimately we should be able to prevent cancer.”
* http://www.hsj.co.uk/news/2008/12/cancer_reform_progress_report_stresses_early_diagnosis.html
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