Briefings: cancer services and treatments

Cancer treatment and services across the UK have improved greatly over the last ten years, resulting in increased survival rates for many cancers.

However, there are several areas where cancer treatment could still improve.

Analysis of cancer waiting times, as well as information from clinical audit, has revealed variations across the UK in the availability of some treatments for cancer patients. These variations are not limited to cancer drugs, but also occur in radiotherapy and surgery.

We want the UK governments to take urgent action to ensure that all cancer patients have timely access to the full range of high quality and cost-effective anti-cancer treatments in line with Improving Outcome Guidance.

We also want the Government to ensure that the NHS is getting the best financial deal for the drugs that it is purchasing so that more patients can benefit.

Read more about Cancer Research UK’s work to address issues in variation of access to:

• Radiotherapy
• Drug treatment
• Surgery