Wales in need of ‘earlier cancer diagnosis’ drive, health expert says

Tom Crosby, medical director of the Wales Cancer Network, has called on the Welsh government to implement an improved drive towards earlier cancer diagnosis.

The comment comes after the Welsh government has launched its refreshed cancer delivery plan, in which it committed to continuing to improve survival rates for cancer and reduce early deaths caused by the disease.

It also follows a call from the UK Lung Cancer Coalition in October, which said Wales needed ‘drastic improvement’ to increase its five-year survival rates, which are recorded as the lowest in the UK.

In an introduction to the revised plan, Crosby said: "We must lead a relentless drive towards earlier diagnosis.

"We are aware that Wales performs less well in this compared to other developed countries worldwide. Diagnosing cancer early allows for a combination of less aggressive and less expensive treatment, improved patient experience and quality of life, and crucially, better survival."

Wales Health Secretary Vaughan Gething commented: "Sadly, cancer touches all our lives at some point. Most of us will know a friend or relative that has had the disease; some will have had a personal experience of it.

"Some will have lost the fight, but thankfully, many will have survived and gone on to live full and healthy lives.

"We're proud that here in Wales cancer survival rates continue to increase year on year. Early death through cancer has declined by around 14 per cent over 10 years."