Cancer diagnosis – the shortfall and the opportunity

THE PROBLEM

The number of Britons aged 75 and over is projected to rise by 89.3% by mid-2039. In 2014, their number stood at 5.2 million; the estimate for 2039 is currently 9.9 million.

Britons aged 50-74 account for more than half (53%) of new cancer cases and the elderly (75 and above) for more than a third (36%).

THE COST OF LATE DIAGNOSIS

Early-stage cancer treatment is significantly less expensive than treating the disease at an advanced stage.

STAGE 1 CANCER

(The cancer is relatively small and contained within the organ it started in.)

Colon: £3,373
Rectal: £4,449
Ovarian: £5,328
Lung: £7,952

STAGE 4 CANCER

(The cancer has spread from where it started to another body organ.)

Colon: £12,519
Rectal: £11,815
Ovarian: £15,018
Lung: £13,078

THE OPPORTUNITY

Significant savings could be realised if all Clinical Commissioning Groups achieve the level of early diagnosis of the best CCGs:

£24 million

For colon cancer, savings of more than £24 million could be realised, benefiting 4,500 patients.

£10 million

For rectal cancer, savings of nearly £10 million could be realised, benefiting more than 1,700 patients.

£16 million

For ovarian cancer, savings of more than £16 million could be realised, benefiting 1,400 patients.

£6.4 million

Due to lung cancer’s higher level of recurrence, achieving this level of earlier diagnosis would incur a cost of £6.4 million.

TIMELINE OF INNOVATION

Technological advances in diagnostics over the past century include:

Data compiled by Cancer Research UK and the UN Population Division.