The proportion of lung cancer patients getting active treatment varies widely from place to place, according to the latest National Lung Cancer Audit.
The report shows the likelihood of getting active treatment (surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy) for lung cancer can be more than eight times higher in some places than in others, while the likelihood of having surgery can be more than six times higher. Overall, the proportion of patients getting active treatment lags substantially behind that of other comparable countries. The report showed:
• While 54% of patients received active treatment for their lung cancer in 2008, up from 51% in 2007, the proportion of patients receiving active treatment ranged from around 10% in some areas to more than 80% in others.
• The proportion of patients having surgery in an attempt to cure their cancer increased from 10% in 2007 to 11% in 2008. However, the proportion of patients having surgery ranged from less than 5% in some places to more than 25% in others. The proportion receiving surgery in other comparable countries ranges from 15% to 25%.
• Chemotherapy rates also vary widely across the country. The proportion of patients with the less common small cell lung cancer who received chemotherapy was 62% – unchanged from last year and low compared to other countries – even though the condition responds well to this treatment.
• Only 51% of patients were seen by a lung cancer specialist nurse and only a quarter had the specialist nurse present at the time of their diagnosis – even though they provide a vital supporting role for patients with lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Medical director of the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, Dr Jesme Fox commented: “The massive geographical variation in access to active anti cancer treatment, especially surgery, is very worrying. Patients deserve better. These differences urgently need to be explored and rectified. Next year’s audit, we hope, will show a marked improvement.”
