Tackling cancer in England : saving more lives, second report of session 2004-05, report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence

Following on from a NAO report (HCP 364, session 2003-04; ISBN 010292757X) published in March 2004, the Committee's report examines the extent of progress being made to improve the prevention and early detection of cancer, to improve the quality of cancer treatments, and to reduce regional variations in cancer survival and mortality rates in England.

Findings include: research shows that people in more deprived areas are likely to have their cancer identified at a more advanced stage, and further work needs to be undertaken to tackle the underlying reasons for late presentation; action is needed to help GPs improve early detection rates, with the development of GP cancer specialists to spread good practice amongst the profession; and improved recording mechanisms are required to monitor the time taken for patient assessment, referral, diagnosis and treatment, with better availability of public information on provision of local cancer services.