The number of people in Wales surviving cancer treatment is set to rise by more than a quarter, according to a report from the Welsh Government.
The All Wales Cancer Annual Report, published by Health Minister Lesley Griffiths, shows the number of people surviving cancer treatment was estimated to be around 110,000 in 2009, with this expected to rise to 140,000 by 2016.
The report also found that over the last 15 years, Wales experienced the fastest rate of change across the UK for survival rates at one and five years for all cancers.
Other findings include:
- Three in every four eligible women are screened for breast cancer, and Breast Test Wales having the highest cancer detection rate of any UK breast screening programme;
- The number of people accessing screening services for bowel cancer continues to improve with more than 400,000 people invited for screening
- The NHS has consistently met the 31 day target for urgent treatment for patients referred to hospital for reasons other than suspected cancer.
- The NHS is on track to meet a target of 20% of patients consenting to donate tissue to the Wales Cancer Bank, which allows scientists to undertake research into cancer prevention and cure.
The report also found rates of cancer were also increasing with one in three people in Wales predicted to be diagnosed with a form of the disease before the age of 75 and one in four at some stage in their lifetime.
It also highlighted issues with meeting the Welsh Government’s 62-day treatment time target for urgent cases, which has consistently been missed.
NHS spending on cancer was £347m in 2010/11 – 7% of NHS spending in Wales.
Health Minister Lesley Griffiths said: “The hard work of NHS staff together with continued investment and new, faster treatment means Wales has witnessed the biggest rate of improvement for cancer survival in the UK.
“Cancer is still Wales’s biggest killer disease, however, and there is still more to do. We need to improve performance against the 62 day target for those newly diagnosed with cancer, and diagnose cancer at earlier stages.
“The Cancer Delivery Plan, which I published in June, sets out early diagnosis as a priority for the NHS, to help us build on these improvements.”