UK cancer survival rates trailing decades behind European countries

Rates in Britain contrast with Sweden, Norway and Denmark, despite it having similar healthcare systems and high-quality cancer data

A medium wide-angle view of a woman sitting on the edge of her hospital bed before she goes for some treatment for her breast cancer. Getty Images

Cancer survival rates in the UK are trailing decades behind countries such as Denmark, Norway and Sweden, new analysis shows.

The analysis, by Macmillan Cancer Support found that survival rates in the UK for prostate, bowel, breast and cervical cancer are only just reaching levels that some other European countries achieved in the early 2000s.

The data shows that bowel cancer survival in England for women is 20 years behind Sweden, where women who had the condition diagnosed between 1997 and 2001 experienced better five-year survival rates than those in England who were diagnosed two decades later (2016-2020).

Current survival figures further shows 57.6 per cent of women in England live for at least five years, but this figure is much higher elsewhere at 72.7 per cent in Denmark, 71.7 per cent in Norway and 70.6 per cent in Sweden.

Similarly, survival data from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland shows these countries are lagging 10 to 15 years behind Sweden and Norway.

When it comes to men, bowel cancer survival in England lags 15 years behind Sweden, while prostate cancer survival is a decade behind.

England is currently achieving 57.6 per cent five-year survival rates, lower than the 73.2 per cent in Denmark, 70 per cent in Norway and 69.4 per cent in Sweden.

Prostate cancer five-year survival in England currently stands at 88.5 per cent, but is much higher in Sweden at 95 per cent, 94.8 per cent in Norway and 90.2 per cent in Denmark.

Breast cancer survival in England is also a decade behind Sweden and Denmark, while Scotland and Northern Ireland are a decade behind Sweden.

The data also showed that cervical cancer survival in England is 25 years behind Norway, which achieved a higher survival between 1992 and 1996 than England has now.

“Behind today’s shocking data are thousands of real people whose entire worlds have been turned upside down by cancer,” Gemma Peters, Macmillan Cancer Support’s chief executive, said.

“It’s clear that cancer care is at breaking point, but this is a political choice and better is possible.

“We urgently need the next UK government to prioritise a long-term cross-government strategy that revolutionises cancer care and ensures everyone with cancer has access to the care they need, every step of the way.”

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Previous studies have shown the UK has some of the worst cancer survival rates in Europe.

However, the analysis by Macmillan uses even more recent data to give a fuller picture.

The charity said it had compared the UK to Sweden, Norway and Denmark as they have similar healthcare systems and have high-quality cancer data.

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“The NHS is seeing and treating record numbers of people for cancer, with more people diagnosed at an earlier stage than ever before, and survival rates in England at an all-time high,” an NHS spokesman said.

“It is transforming and expanding its innovative screening programmes including lung checks in supermarket car parks, at home bowel cancer tests and using AI to spot skin cancer, making it easier than ever before to get checked, so please take up your screening invitation when asked – it could save your life.”