Today (4 February), the Government published its National Cancer Plan for England. It sets out how cancer care will be improved with the aim that three out of four people diagnosed with cancer survive for five years or more by 2035.
Sarcoma UK’s Chief Executive, Richard Davidson, said: ‘We welcome the UK Government’s new National Cancer Plan and were involved in the Early Diagnosis working group that was set up to advise the Government, which was a positive and constructive process. It is great to see a strong focus on rare and less common cancers in this plan and we’re excited about helping turn its recommendations into the real change and improvements that people affected by sarcoma cancers need to see.
‘Sarcomas lag behind other cancers in terms of awareness, experience and outcomes as detailed in our Unique Among Cancers report published last year. People affected by sarcoma often have agonisingly long waits to be diagnosed as there can be significant delays in being referred onto the specialist sarcoma services that diagnose and treat people. This can have a major impact on whether people affected by sarcoma get the right diagnosis early enough and to start treatment in time for it to work. Sarcoma patients often do not get the support they need to help with the emotional impact of dealing with a cancer diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation. Sarcoma patients, their families and loved ones deserve better.’
