The cancer plan must address the stark disparity in funding
3 min read
We have a long way to go to close the research gap facing less survivable cancers.
This week, the Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce (LSCT) has voiced concerns about a critical lack of research funding for the less survivable cancers — those of the brain, liver, lung, oesophagus, pancreas, or stomach. The Taskforce has stressed that this stark imbalance is contributing to extremely poor patient outcomes.
Information obtained from a series of Freedom of Information (FOI) requests by the LSCT shows that research into the less survivable cancers receives less than one-fifth (18.92 per cent) of all government-funded cancer research, despite them accounting for nearly 40 per cent of all common cancer deaths in the UK.
This disparity in funding reflects a situation where less survivable cancers receive approximately £130 less in research funding per cancer death compared to the average across all cancers. Some, like oesophageal, receive as little as £40 per death (compared to an average of £310 across other cancers).
Over 95,000 people are diagnosed with one of the less survivable cancers in the UK every year, and, sadly, we have first-hand experience of the impact a diagnosis of these devastating diseases can have on patients and their loved ones. Figures released by the Taskforce last year found that more than half of people in England (58 per cent) diagnosed with one of the six less survivable cancers will die from their disease within one year. The data released this week underscores the urgent need for increased investment in research aimed at improving outcomes for patients.
The Rare Cancers Bill, which is due to have its second reading in the House of Lords this Friday, will mark an important first step towards addressing the research gap for five of the six less survivable cancers by incentivising research and investment into the treatment of rare cancers. This includes those of the brain, liver, oesophagus, pancreas and stomach. Its passing into law has the potential to extend and improve thousands of lives by removing barriers to research, facilitating better communication between researchers and patients, increasing patient awareness of relevant clinical trials, appointing named leads responsible for the delivery of rare cancer research across the UK and reviewing drug regulations for rare conditions. But we have a long way to go to close the research gap and significantly improve the life chances of patients diagnosed with these currently deadly diseases.
We have been proud — as Chair and Vice Chair of APPG on Less Survivable Cancers — to play our part in raising attention to the underfunding in research for these cancers since the group’s inception last year. It's essential that the upcoming national cancer plan includes a focus on the less survivable cancers and commits to vital actions needed to improve outcomes for patients, and we will continue to push the government to remove barriers to research, including the lack of availability of clinical trials, regulatory barriers to innovative detection tools and, importantly, funding.
Paulette Hamilton is the Labour MP for Birmingham Erdington and Charlie Maynard is the Liberal Democrat MP for Witney.
