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Sufferers dying because of delays says professor
Sophie Goodchild4 Sep 2008
Cancer patients are dying because of delays in treatment, a leading cancer expert warned.
Professor Karol Sikora, one of the country's most eminent cancer specialists, said the NHS was failing to provide a 'patient friendly' service easily accessed by everyone.
The professor of cancer medicine at Imperial College told the Standard: "The initial stages in cancer treatment are crucial and if you don't ask you don't get. The service is not patient friendly and people from wealthier parts of the country get fast tracked because they have sharper elbows. The differences are more marked in Britain than European countries. And it's not getting better."
His comments come as new figures reveal a huge divide between the rich and poor on survival rates for cancers.
Patients in deprived areas are more likely to die from common cancers including breast and stomach than those in affluent parts of the country.
The Office of National Statistics (ONS) figures are based on outcomes over one and five years between 1998 and 2003.
They reveal the greatest poor/rich divide is among patients diagnosed with bladder and rectal cancer.
The chance of dying from these cancers is up to more than four per cent more likely in areas such as Lewisham and Hackney.
Six health trusts in London have already been identified as 'deprived' because of their poor performance on cancer survival.
These are Hammersmith and Fulham, Lewisham, Hackney, Southwark, Tower Hamlets and Barking and Dagenham.
Britain has already been dubbed as the 'sick man of Europe' for its poor record on cancer survival.
Ministers introduced reforms last year to overhaul cancer treatment including pilot schemes to ensure people receive treatment early.
But Professor Sikora said: "What is so surprising is the NHS is free so how come treatment is so different? There is no incentive to provide."
The ONS figures were based on research by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine funded part funded by Cancer Research UK.
The charity's health information manager Ed Yong said it was crucial to pin down why differences exist.
"People living in deprived areas may be more likely to smoke or be obese; they could take longer to present unusual symptoms to their doctor; be too unfit to receive some treatments or they could simply be receiving a poorer standard of care. It is vitally important that we understand these reasons so that we can ensure that everyone has an equally high chance of beating cancer regardless of where they live."
The Department of Health admitted more needs to be done on closing the gap on cancer deaths.
A spokeswoman said: "Late diagnosis of cancer is a major factor contributing to lower survival rates. The National Awareness and Early Detection Initiative will take forward work to improve awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer and encourage those with symptoms to seek help earlier."
