The latest data from the Office for National Statistics indicate an overall improvement in survival rates for all cancers in England, and a decline in geographical variation since 2001.
The combined 1-year survival rates for all malignancies (except non-melanoma skin cancer and prostate cancer) in England have shown a steady increase during a period of 15 years, from 62 per cent in 2001 to 72.8 per cent in 2016. Among the clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), the highest improvement was for South Cheshire (from 53.8 per cent to 74.6 per cent), and the lowest for Wyre Forest (64.5 per cent to 71 per cent).
A decreased geographic variation in cancer survival across England was observed, indicated by a fall in the range of 1-year cancer survival estimates across CCGs from 16 percentage points in 2001 to 9.7 percentage points in 2016. While geographic inequality had reduced for breast and colorectal cancer, it had increased for lung cancer.
Improvements were seen in 5-year all cancer survival estimates in England (from 43.8 per cent in 2001 to 53.2 per cent in 2012). For the first time ever, survival estimates were determined for all of the 19 Cancer Alliance areas across England. Between 2001 and 2007, a net 10-year survival increase was seen across all alliances, with a reduction in the range between alliances. Wessex had the highest 10-year all cancer survival estimate during this period, while North Central and North East London had the lowest.
