UK Cancer Survival Rates Below Third World

British patients are less likely to survive lung, liver and stomach cancer than those in some Third World countries, according to the most comprehensive ever international study of its kind.

New figures reveal 9.6% of lung cancer patients in the UK survive at least five years after diagnosis - compared with 10.7% in Malaysia.

Statistics for liver cancer show 9.3% in the UK survive - compared with 19.9% in Indonesia.

And 18.5% survive stomach cancer in the UK - compared with 28.6% in Puerto Rico.

Research published in The Lancet medical journal covers 26 million patients with 10 different cancers in 67 countries.

But while Britain ranks well for breast cancer and childhood leukaemia, the outlook for many other forms of the disease remains comparatively poor.

Professor Michel Coleman, study author and epidemiologist at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said too many patients in Britain are diagnosed too late.

He told Sky News: "Patients don't necessarily approach their doctor as early as they might when they have symptoms suggestive of cancer.

"When they do see their GP, it may be they are not referred quickly enough. It is really hard to tell symptoms of a possible cancer from symptoms of other common diseases."

Delays in surgery and problems in access to the latest radiotherapy machines are also likely to affect survival, he added.

Dr Penny Woods, chief executive of the British Lung Foundation, said anybody with a persistent cough, breathlessness or blood in their phlegm should see a doctor without delay.

"Early diagnosis is essential to improving prognosis.

"We have made progress in these areas in recent years and have seen improvements in survival as a result.

"However, more still urgently needs to be done. Our current survival rates for lung cancer are not only a national embarrassment, but a personal tragedy for the families of the 35,000 people this devastating disease kills in this country every year."

The Department of Health said survival rates for cancer were improving.

"We have invested three-quarters of a billion pounds in early diagnosis and treatment to make progress towards our ambition to be the best country for cancer care in Europe," said a spokesman.