WE WANT TO CLOSE THE DEADLY CANCER GAP
Less Survivable Cancers Awareness Day takes place on the 11th of January annually. In 2023, the Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce used to highlight the conditions’ poorly known symptoms, and raise awareness of the need for action on these cancers.
There are some cancers which have seen remarkable progress in survivability but others that are just as deadly as they were 40 years ago. Together, six of these less survivable cancers (lung, pancreatic, liver, brain, oesophageal and stomach) are responsible for a half of all deaths from common cancers and make up a quarter of cancer cases.
People diagnosed with these cancers have a shockingly low life expectancy. Today, on average, the chance of someone surviving for five years after being diagnosed with one of these cancers is only 16%. This is the deadly cancer gap.
The Taskforce brings together six charities representing patients from each of these cancers to call for urgent change.
Through more research, better treatment and earlier diagnosis, we can close the deadly cancer gap.