Cancer survival rates 10 years behind Europe: British figures still well below other countries despite billions being spent to improve situation over the last 15 years

• Cancer survival rates more than 10 years behind other European countries
• Breast cancer survival rates in UK below those achieved by others in 1990s
• Figures despite Britain spending billions to improve situation last 15 years
• Macmillan said it was ‘shameful’ and proves better rates not unachievable

Cancer survival rates in Britain lag more than ten years behind those in many other European countries, experts warn.

Even for breast cancer – one of the most treatable forms of the disease – the figures are still well below those reached by France, Sweden and Italy in the late 1990s.

For lung cancer, the rates are so far behind that patients in Britain are now half as likely to survive as those living in Austria. 

Macmillan Cancer Support has described the situation as ‘shameful’ and warns too many patients are dying needlessly here when they would survive had they been treated elsewhere in Europe. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3008614/Cancer-survival-rates-10-years-Europe-British-figures-countries-despite-billions-spent-improve-situation-15-years.html