"Diagnosis of cancer at later stages is generally agreed to be the single most important reason for lower survival rates in England"



Source - Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for Cancer published by the Department of Health in January 2011.



In particular around 25% of cancers are only detected when a patient is admitted into hospital via an emergency route.



As such, the following statistics are likely to prove key in early sign-posting  of any improvements relating to this area

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• the proportion of cancers diagnosed at stages 1 and 2

• the proportion of cancers diagnosed through emergency routes