Latest news with #LancetRegionalHealth
Times
6 days ago
- Health
- Times
Increase in cancer survival rates has slowed, worried experts warn
Progress in cancer survival rates has slowed down, experts said, and the gap is wider than ever before between those surviving the deadliest cancers and those living through the least deadly. Research led by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and funded by Cancer Research UK looked at the Cancer Survival Index for adults in England and Wales from 1971 to 2018. The researchers found that 49.8 per cent of cancer patients survived to a decade after diagnosis, a rate higher than the one-year survival rate in 1971 and 1972. The team, writing in the journal Lancet Regional Health, Europe, hailed the improvement as 'remarkable', but also noted that the 'speed of improvement in survival has slowed down'. Between 2000-01 and 2005-06, the ten-year survival rate rose from 41.2 per cent to 45.2. However between 2010-11 and 2015-16, the improvement in survival rates was from 47.9 to 49.3 per cent. The difference between the survival rates of different types of cancers remained large: 97 per cent of testicular cancer patients survived for ten years, but only 4.3 per cent of pancreatic cancer patients made it to a decade after diagnosis. Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: 'Thanks to research, most patients today are far more likely to survive their cancer than at any point in the past. But the reality is that this progress is slowing and for some cancers, it never got going in the first place.' According to the charity, screening programmes have improved survival rates for cancers in the breast, bowel and cervix. For other types such as stomach, lung and brain cancer, they had increased by only a fraction in the past 50 years. The government has launched a call for evidence to shape a national cancer plan in February. It will aim to outline changes in treatment to reduce deaths. Mitchell added: 'The upcoming national cancer plan for England must include commitments to spot more cancers earlier, as well as backing research into new treatments so that each patient, regardless of their diagnosis, can hope for more moments with the people they love.' Michel Coleman, a professor of epidemiology and statistics at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: 'Since I began my career in cancer research I've seen substantial increases in survival for most types of cancer. 'Our understanding of cancer biology has expanded, effective screening programmes have been introduced, and new treatments have been developed. Allowing this trend to stall will have devastating consequences.' The study was conducted using data from about 10.8 million people, available through records from the National Disease Registration Service and the Welsh Cancer Intelligence and Surveillance Unit. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: 'We are prioritising cancer care as we turn around more than a decade of neglect of our NHS. 'We're already seeing progress, with 95,000 more people having cancer diagnosed or ruled out within 28 days between July 2024 and May 2025, compared to the same period the previous year. 'The National Cancer Plan will set out how we will improve survival rates further and address the variation between different cancer types.'
Time of India
02-08-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Gujarat records one-third of kidney swap transplants in India
Ahmedabad: As India readies to observe National Organ Donation Day on Aug 3, a recent study published in the Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia reveals that Gujarat leads the country in kidney swap (KS) living donor transplants. Between 2000 and 2024, India recorded 1,839 such transplants, of which 569, or nearly 31%, took place in Gujarat alone. The state's numbers not only far surpass those of other regions but are also more than double Maharashtra's 222 and Delhi's 207, according to the study. The findings are part of a multi-centre, retrospective cohort study titled 'Analysis of Kidney and Liver Exchange Transplantation in India (2000–2025)' and published in the June edition. The study was co-authored by Prof Vivek Kute, treasurer of the Indian Society of Organ Transplantation (ISOT), who noted that the Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Centre (IKDRC) in Ahmedabad alone has conducted over 600 kidney exchange procedures — the highest by any single centre in the country. You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad Kute said that the rise in living donor transplants, especially via kidney swaps, has helped fill the gap left by a low deceased organ donation rate, which currently covers only around 15% of the demand. "In such a scenario, Gujarat has emerged as a pioneer, matching donors and recipients through paired exchange systems involving two or more sets of patients. These chains reduce waiting time and improve transplant access, particularly for those with incompatible family donors," he added. Explaining the process, doctors said that while living kidney donors are usually close relatives, they are often not a match for the patient in need. In such cases, the system covers multiple families by finding a match, then facilitating the first donor to give a kidney to a second patient and so on. If a direct two-way swap is not possible, chains involving multiple donor-recipient pairs are created. In some IKDRC cases, up to five interconnected pairs have undergone transplants in a single cycle. Dr Anil Kumar, director of the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO), said that a key national event last year showcased best practices from states like Gujarat to help frame a broader kidney swap programme. "Such efforts will reduce transplant waiting times, promote equitable access across the country, and improve long-term outcomes," he said. Medical professionals also underline other benefits of kidney exchanges: they improve the quality of life, reduce the overall treatment cost compared to prolonged dialysis, and result in better long-term transplant success. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Powys County Times
27-05-2025
- Health
- Powys County Times
Childhood cancers which take longest to diagnose revealed in new study
Teenagers and children with bone tumours in the UK are facing longer waits for cancer diagnosis, according to a new review. Babies and those with kidney cancer wait the shortest period before they are diagnosed, academics found. Researchers, led by University of Nottingham, analysed data on 2,000 children diagnosed with cancer between September 2020 and March 2023. Untreated, tumours grow bigger and can spread around the body, requiring more extensive surgery and more intensive therapies to offer a cure. On average, children with cancer were diagnosed within 4.6 weeks. While some children were diagnosed on the same day their symptoms began, others waited up to six years, experts found. The time to diagnosis was found to be longest among 15 to 18-year-olds, who waited for an average of 8.7 weeks before they were told they had cancer. And those with bone cancer were found to wait for more than three months on average, or 12.6 weeks. Meanwhile children under the age of one waited just 3.7 weeks before diagnosis and children with kidney cancer, also known as renal cancer, waited for an average of 2.3 weeks before they were diagnosed. But they said that overall, half of children and young people diagnosed with cancer in the UK are waiting for four weeks or more to be diagnosed. They also studied where children were diagnosed and found the majority (67%) were diagnosed after a trip to A&E, after an emergency referral or emergency admission to hospital. Some cancer types, including bone tumours, soft tissue tumours Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis and brain tumours, were associated with a higher number of medical visits before diagnosis. Writing in the Lancet Regional Health – Europe, researchers said their work highlights 'disparities for age and diagnostics groups' when it comes to cancer diagnoses as they called for more efforts to 'accelerating diagnosis' for those facing 'lengthy' waits. They said the findings could help inform health officials as they draw up a national cancer plan for England. Dr Shaarna Shanmugavadivel, from the School of Medicine at the University of Nottingham, said: 'For the first time, we understand the current landscape of childhood cancer diagnosis in the UK. 'There is an urgent need to focus efforts on young people and tumour types such as bone tumours that are still experiencing lengthy intervals. 'Earliest possible diagnosis is key as time is crucial. 'Untreated, tumours grow bigger and can spread around the body, requiring more extensive surgery and more intensive therapies to offer cure. 'The findings will help focus efforts towards closing the gap for these groups, ensuring more children and young people receive a diagnosis sooner.' Ashley Ball-Gamble, chief executive of CCLG: The Children and Young People's Cancer Association, and co-author of the study, added: 'It's crucial that we understand why certain groups, such as older teenagers, or those with certain cancers, such as bone and brain tumours, are likely to face a lengthier diagnosis. 'By recognising these differences, we hope to work towards faster diagnoses and improved survival rates.'
Western Telegraph
27-05-2025
- Health
- Western Telegraph
Childhood cancers which take longest to diagnose revealed in new study
Babies and those with kidney cancer wait the shortest period before they are diagnosed, academics found. Researchers, led by University of Nottingham, analysed data on 2,000 children diagnosed with cancer between September 2020 and March 2023. Untreated, tumours grow bigger and can spread around the body, requiring more extensive surgery and more intensive therapies to offer a cure. Untreated, tumours grow bigger and can spread around the body, requiring more extensive surgery and more intensive therapies to offer cure Dr Shaarna Shanmugavadivel On average, children with cancer were diagnosed within 4.6 weeks. While some children were diagnosed on the same day their symptoms began, others waited up to six years, experts found. The time to diagnosis was found to be longest among 15 to 18-year-olds, who waited for an average of 8.7 weeks before they were told they had cancer. And those with bone cancer were found to wait for more than three months on average, or 12.6 weeks. By recognising these differences, we hope to work towards faster diagnoses and improved survival rates Ashley Ball-Gamble Meanwhile children under the age of one waited just 3.7 weeks before diagnosis and children with kidney cancer, also known as renal cancer, waited for an average of 2.3 weeks before they were diagnosed. But they said that overall, half of children and young people diagnosed with cancer in the UK are waiting for four weeks or more to be diagnosed. They also studied where children were diagnosed and found the majority (67%) were diagnosed after a trip to A&E, after an emergency referral or emergency admission to hospital. Some cancer types, including bone tumours, soft tissue tumours Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis and brain tumours, were associated with a higher number of medical visits before diagnosis. Writing in the Lancet Regional Health – Europe, researchers said their work highlights 'disparities for age and diagnostics groups' when it comes to cancer diagnoses as they called for more efforts to 'accelerating diagnosis' for those facing 'lengthy' waits. They said the findings could help inform health officials as they draw up a national cancer plan for England. Dr Shaarna Shanmugavadivel, from the School of Medicine at the University of Nottingham, said: 'For the first time, we understand the current landscape of childhood cancer diagnosis in the UK. 'There is an urgent need to focus efforts on young people and tumour types such as bone tumours that are still experiencing lengthy intervals. 'Earliest possible diagnosis is key as time is crucial. 'Untreated, tumours grow bigger and can spread around the body, requiring more extensive surgery and more intensive therapies to offer cure. 'The findings will help focus efforts towards closing the gap for these groups, ensuring more children and young people receive a diagnosis sooner.' Ashley Ball-Gamble, chief executive of CCLG: The Children and Young People's Cancer Association, and co-author of the study, added: 'It's crucial that we understand why certain groups, such as older teenagers, or those with certain cancers, such as bone and brain tumours, are likely to face a lengthier diagnosis. 'By recognising these differences, we hope to work towards faster diagnoses and improved survival rates.'
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Childhood cancers which take longest to diagnose revealed in new study
Teenagers and children with bone tumours in the UK are facing longer waits for cancer diagnosis, according to a new review. Babies and those with kidney cancer wait the shortest period before they are diagnosed, academics found. Researchers, led by University of Nottingham, analysed data on 2,000 children diagnosed with cancer between September 2020 and March 2023. Untreated, tumours grow bigger and can spread around the body, requiring more extensive surgery and more intensive therapies to offer a cure. On average, children with cancer were diagnosed within 4.6 weeks. While some children were diagnosed on the same day their symptoms began, others waited up to six years, experts found. The time to diagnosis was found to be longest among 15 to 18-year-olds, who waited for an average of 8.7 weeks before they were told they had cancer. And those with bone cancer were found to wait for more than three months on average, or 12.6 weeks. Meanwhile children under the age of one waited just 3.7 weeks before diagnosis and children with kidney cancer, also known as renal cancer, waited for an average of 2.3 weeks before they were diagnosed. But they said that overall, half of children and young people diagnosed with cancer in the UK are waiting for four weeks or more to be diagnosed. They also studied where children were diagnosed and found the majority (67%) were diagnosed after a trip to A&E, after an emergency referral or emergency admission to hospital. Some cancer types, including bone tumours, soft tissue tumours Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis and brain tumours, were associated with a higher number of medical visits before diagnosis. Writing in the Lancet Regional Health – Europe, researchers said their work highlights 'disparities for age and diagnostics groups' when it comes to cancer diagnoses as they called for more efforts to 'accelerating diagnosis' for those facing 'lengthy' waits. They said the findings could help inform health officials as they draw up a national cancer plan for England. Dr Shaarna Shanmugavadivel, from the School of Medicine at the University of Nottingham, said: 'For the first time, we understand the current landscape of childhood cancer diagnosis in the UK. 'There is an urgent need to focus efforts on young people and tumour types such as bone tumours that are still experiencing lengthy intervals. 'Earliest possible diagnosis is key as time is crucial. 'Untreated, tumours grow bigger and can spread around the body, requiring more extensive surgery and more intensive therapies to offer cure. 'The findings will help focus efforts towards closing the gap for these groups, ensuring more children and young people receive a diagnosis sooner.' Ashley Ball-Gamble, chief executive of CCLG: The Children and Young People's Cancer Association, and co-author of the study, added: 'It's crucial that we understand why certain groups, such as older teenagers, or those with certain cancers, such as bone and brain tumours, are likely to face a lengthier diagnosis. 'By recognising these differences, we hope to work towards faster diagnoses and improved survival rates.'
