Five steps to getting cancer diagnostics back on track

This report published by Cancer Research UK outlines the current state of play on diagnostics in England and how we can address issues to deliver a world-class cancer service. 

A new report highlights five things a post-election UK Government could do to get cancer diagnostics back on track:

• Reform of the UK Government’s approach to investment in health
• Improve workforce planning for diagnostic services 
• Setting up screening programmes for success
• Prepare the health system for the adoption of innovation
• Take a strategic approach to diagnostics

Further detail: Five steps to getting cancer diagnostics back on track

Full report: A full diagnostic: Cancer Research UK’s position on diagnostic services and cancer in England

Cancer Research UK – Annual Reports and Accounts 2022/23

Cancer Research UK – 24th August 2023

Cancer Research UK is pleased with the progress it’s made this year, but remains concerned about the situation for cancer patients, after the publication of its Annual Reports and Accounts 2022/23 today. 

The charity continues to take important steps towards achieving its vision of bringing about a world where everybody lives longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer. 

Annual Reports and Accounts 2022/23

Cancer in the UK – Overview 2023

Cancer Research UK – February 2023

This annual report summarises key metrics and data across the cancer pathway,
including prevention, early diagnosis and treatment. It sets out the top line view of
key challenges facing cancer services, and people affected by cancer, today, looking
at where progress is being made and what challenges remain in the UK.

Read the Report – Cancer in the UK – Overview 2023

New analysis reveals Black women in England more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage cancer

Cancer Research UK – 27th January 2023

When cancer is diagnosed, doctors will carry out tests to determine how big the tumour is, and whether it has spread into any other tissues or parts of the body.

Once they know that information, they can assign the cancer a stage.

Typically, this ranges from stage 1, meaning the cancer is small and hasn’t spread beyond where it first started, to stage 4, meaning the cancer has spread from where it started to another body organ.

Cancers diagnosed at an earlier stage, before they’ve had the chance to grow and spread, are more likely to be treated successfully. So, minimising any delays to detecting cancers, and therefore catching them at the earliest possible stage, is paramount to improving cancer survival.

However, previous research has suggested that there are inequalities between some groups when it comes to being diagnosed with cancer at later stages.

Research on breast cancer in particular has suggested that there are differences in proportions of patients diagnosed at different stages by ethnic group.

And whilst we know that cancer incidence differs across some ethnic groups, for example, black men are at a greater risk of developing prostate cancer, data on stage at diagnosis across ethnic groups in England has not been robust enough to allow for an analysis that would give us insight into any existing differences, leaving it a gap in our knowledge.

Further information – New analysis reveals Black women in England more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage cancer

Background Research – Fry A, White B, Nagarwalla D, Shelton J, Jack RH. Relationship between ethnicity and stage at diagnosis in England: a national analysis of six cancer sites. BMJ Open2023;13:e062079. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2022-062079 pmid:36702581

Into the archives: the story of HPV and cervical cancer

Cancer Research UK – Nov 21st 2022

“It’s a huge achievement by lots and lots of people. It’s nice to think that this next generation will probably never really have to worry about cervical cancer in this country.”

Last year, a monumental moment on a cold November day saw the publication of a long-awaited study.

The results of that study, published in the Lancet, and carried out by our researchers, found that the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine was shown to dramatically reduce cervical cancer rates by almost 90% in women in their 20s who were offered it at ages 12 to 13.

This year, to celebrate 20 years of Cancer Research UK and 120 years of lifesaving research, we’ve been looking back in time and digging into the archives to explore some of the impact we’ve had in cancer research.

From helping to strengthen the understanding of the link between HPV and cervical cancer, to working towards reducing cervical cancer to the point where almost no one develops it, our history with this particular disease goes way back.

Full Read – Into the archives: the story of HPV and cervical cancer

Background research – The effects of the national HPV vaccination programme in England, UK, on cervical cancer and grade 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia incidence: a register-based observational study

European Groundshot—addressing Europe’s cancer research challenges: a Lancet Oncology Commission

THE LANCET ONCOLOGY COMMISSION

This details the new data on cancer research activity across Europe over the past 12 years. It deploys this knowledge to help inform Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and the EU Cancer Mission, and set out an evidence-driven, patient-centred cancer research roadmap for Europe.

European Groundshot—addressing Europe’s cancer research challenges: a Lancet Oncology Commission

Cancer Research UK : More than 65,000 people are left waiting to find out if it’s cancer each month

Cancer Research UK | May 2022 | More than 65,000 people are left waiting to find out if it’s cancer each month

New calculations from Cancer Research UK estimate that, on average, over 65,000 people in England are left waiting longer than 28 days to find out whether they have cancer each month.

These estimates are based on the latest data from the Faster Diagnosis Standard (FDS). The FDS is a performance standard introduced by Government in 2021. It’s used to better capture how long people on certain cancer-related referrals wait for a diagnosis.

This applies to people referred by their GP urgently with suspected cancer, following breast symptoms, or have been picked up through cancer screening.

The current FDS target is set at 75 per cent, meaning three quarters of people being urgently referred should be told they have cancer or given the all-clear within that timeframe. However, this target has yet to be met.

Calculated as the average number of people who received a diagnosis, or had cancer ruled out and the result communicated to them beyond the 28-day standard between October 2021 and February 2022, this leaves approximately 65,400 people in limbo.

Full details are available from CRUK

New insights on self-sampling for cervical cancer screening

Drysdale, H. et al. (2022). Self-sampling for cervical screening offered at the point of invitation: A cross-sectional study of preferences in England. Journal of Medical Screening. https://doi.org/10.1177/09691413221092246

A study funded by Cancer Research UK has published the results of its qualitative study which assessed intentions (motivational stage) to provide an upper estimate of how many women might select self-sampling over clinician screening if they were offered a choice. The research team also examined associations between demographic factors and past screening behaviours and preferences for self-sampling, as well as reasons for women’s choices.

Abstract

Objectives

This study assessed preferences for human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling if offered as an alternative to clinician-based screening at the point of invitation for cervical screening.

Setting and Methods

An online questionnaire was completed by screening-eligible women living in England (n equal to  3672). Logistic regressions explored associations between demographic characteristics and screening preferences, stratified by previous screening attendance. Reasons for preferences were also assessed.

Results

Half of participants (51.4 per cent) intended to choose self-sampling, 36.5 per cent preferred clinician screening, 10.5 per cent were unsure, and less than 2 per cent preferred no screening. More irregular and never attenders chose self-sampling, compared with regular attenders (71.1 per cent and 70.1 per cent vs. 41.0 per cent respectively). Among regular attenders, self-sampling was preferred more frequently by the highest occupational grade, older and lesbian, gay and bisexual women, and those with experience of blood self-tests. In the irregular attender group, older women and those with experience of blood self-tests were more likely to choose self-sampling. In ‘never attenders’, self-sampling was less popular in ethnic minority groups.

Conclusions

If offered a choice of screening, around half of women in England may choose self-sampling, but a substantial proportion would still opt for clinician screening. Screening providers will need to manage a high take-up of self-sampling if many regular attenders switch to self-sampling.

Cancer Research UK New insights on self-sampling for cervical cancer screening

Self-sampling for cervical screening offered at the point of invitation: A cross-sectional study of preferences in England [paper]

New drug available for rare thyroid cancer on NHS in England

Cancer Research UK | 1 October 2021 | New drug availalbe for rare thyroid cancer on NHS in England

NICE has recently recommended a new drug for thyroid cancer on the NHS. The funding is available from NICE’s Cancer Drugs Fund which enables access to promising new treatments.

(NICE) has recommended the use of the drug selpercatinib (Retevmo) for some people in England with a type of advanced thyroid cancer.

The drug is now available through the Cancer Drugs Fund, which helps provide access to promising new treatments, as an option for patients with advanced thyroid cancers that have abnormalities in a gene called RET.

Whilst the clinical trial for selpercatinib is still ongoing, current results are positive, with around 70 to 80% of recipients responding to the treatment. The drug is also likely to have fewer side effects than current treatments. However, uncertainties remain as more data is needed.

“This decision is good news for people affected by these rare and aggressive types of thyroid cancer,” said Kruti Shrotri, head of policy development at Cancer Research UK.

“Because this drug has been approved through the Cancer Drugs Fund, patients who could benefit from it in England will be able to access it quickly while more evidence is gathered on its effectiveness.” (Source: Cancer Research UK).

Full details are available from Cancer Research UK

Cancer Patient Survey 2021: Patients less likely to rate cancer care as ‘very good’ during pandemic #Covid19RftLks

Cancer Research UK | July 2021 | Cancer Research UK Cancer Patient Survey 2021 CRUK’s second survey studying the impact of COVID-19 on cancer patients in the UK

This report shares the findings of CRUK’s second survey of 900 cancer patients conducted December 21st 2020 –
March 25th 2021. The survey aimed to build a more complete understanding of how cancer patients’ perspectives of how their testing, treatment and care had been impacted by the pandemic since it began as well as impact on wellbeing and what they wanted the government to be doing. The survey also included new questions on clinical trials, COVID-19
safety measures, remote consultations and community-based treatment.

Key findings

• Almost a third (29 per cent) cancer patients reported that their treatment had been impacted since the start of the pandemic.
• Around 4 in 5 (80 per cent) reported that their care had been impacted in at least one way. The most common ways they were affected was going to treatment alone, having check-ups at hospital cancelled or postponed, and receiving less support both from support groups and clinical nurse specialists.
• The proportion of cancer patients who rated their overall cancer care as ‘very good’ reduced from 84 per cent for before the pandemic started (retrospective rating) to 60 per cent since the pandemic started, 33 per cent downgraded their rating since the pandemic started.
• The majority of cancer patients reported positive experiences of COVID-19 safety measures, particularly safe spaces (89 per cent), wearing masks (80 per cent) and home and community-based treatment (75 per cent).
• The most reported concern generally was of becoming seriously ill from COVID-19 (50 per cent) and catching COVID-19 (49 per cent).
• Patients reported feeling more “frustrated” (67 per cent) and more “anxious” (62 per cent) compared to before pandemic (Source: Cancer Research UK)

Cancer Research UK Cancer Patient Survey 2021 CRUK’s second survey studying the impact of COVID-19 on cancer patients in the UK [report]

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Cancer Research UK Patients less likely to rate cancer care as ‘very good’ during pandemic