The five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer in the UK has reached a record high of 7.9 per cent, according to the latest data.
Yet, the country is still far behind the other high-income countries such as Australia where the five-year survival rate is almost 15 per cent, the Lancet Oncology statistics show.
Pancreatic Cancer Action (PCA), which was launched ten years ago when the survival rates were around 3 per cent, called the increase a “great news” and said it is the beginning of a slow but positive trend upwards.
PCA said the UK has fewer diagnostic scanners like CTs compared to countries like Australia, adding that the organisation is providing learning tools for pharmacists, GPs and hospital doctors to raise awareness of the disease amongst the public.
Becky Rice, health and policy manager at PCA, said: “We must continue to raise awareness of the disease, push for pancreatic cancer-specific policies to improve survival and keep the disease high on the agendas of researchers and policymakers.
“There are reasons to be positive about further improving the survival of pancreatic cancer. The planned introduction of rapid diagnostic centres and continued research into screening and early diagnosis could hold exciting developments for survival and we will continue to evaluate their results.”
The five-year survival rates for testicular, breast and cervical cancers in the UK are respectively 97 per cent, 85 per cent and 66 per cent.
