Surgery - policy position

Surgery continues to be the foundation of treatment for many cancers and is often the first line of cancer care. Surgery cures more patients than any other types of treatment.

Advances in surgical techniques have meant that the quality of cancer surgery has improved with morr operations being carried out by specialist surgeons. Corresponding advances in surgical techniques have meant an increase in the use of less invasive procedures which can reduce the length of recovery time for cancer patients.

We believe that a more co-ordinated approach to cancer surgery needs to be developed. This approach should focus on ensuring that the most up to date surgical techniques are being used consistently and by accredited surgeons who have completed appropriate training.

The National Cancer Audits can provide information on where variations exist in local clinical practice and can suggest where improvements or changes to local clinical practice need to take place.

Data from the National Lung Cancer Audit (LUCADA) show a four-fold difference in surgical resection rates across Hospital Trusts in England, and a three-fold range of active treatment rate. LUCADA concluded that if outcomes in the worst performing areas were brought inline with those of the best we could see a doubling of the overall 5 year survival rate in the UK without any other advances in treatment.