Researchers are reporting a new cancer strategy that will involve a radical shake up in public health prevention and the upgrading of outdated equipment could save 30,000 lives a year.
The report has suggested six strategic priorities for the NHS to make substantial improvements in cancer care in England at a time when cancer cases are rising.
280,000 people were diagnosed with cancer in England in 2013/2014 and this number was expected to reach more than 300,000 by 2020 and more than 360,000 by 2030.
This data demonstrates that one in two people will develop cancer at some point in their lives.
The report proposes how patient experience can be transformed both during and after treatment at a time when NHS cancer services are under unprecedented pressure.
According to the report nearly one in five adults still smokes and third drink too much alcohol. This data demonstrates that more than four in ten cancer cases is caused by aspects of people’s lifestyles that they have the ability to change.
Tobacco is still the main risk factor for cancer, which is followed by obesity. The report asserts that the government must establish a new tobacco control strategy within the next 12 months, along with a national action plan on obesity.
Researchers hope to see a reduction in smoking from the current 18.4% to less than 13% by 2020.
Three previous cancer strategies did a great job of setting England on the path to a world-class cancer service.
Unfortunately, if both the NHS and the public at large don’t seize this moment and change the medical system will be overwhelmed in the coming years with more people being diagnosed with more cancers and diagnosed too late.
