Cancer survival rates improve by almost 10%
Three in every four people survive their cancer the first year after being diagnosed, with rates of survival for some cancers even higher, according to latest figures.
Three in every four people survive their cancer the first year after being diagnosed, with rates of survival for some cancers even higher, according to figures out today.
NHS England has published a one-year cancer survival index which looks at survival rates in 2020 compared to 2005. The index also breaks down the figures by types of cancer and where patients live.
The index shows the overall first-year survival rate has risen 9% to 74.6%. The one-year breast cancer survival index is now about 97% and for bowel cancer the survival rate is now above 80%.
These statistics focus on year-one survival, and support statistics released in February which revealed 5-year survival rates have also improved for most types of cancer, and child cancer survival rates were up to more than 86%.
Cancer diagnosis and treatment remained a top priority throughout the pandemic, with more than 7.3 million urgent referrals and over 1.6 million people receiving cancer treatment between March 2020 and January 2023.