The Government has today announced reform plans for England’s cancer services focusing on the prevention of the disease as well as providing more support for people living with cancer.
The British Lung Foundation welcomes the Cancer Reform Strategy, which involves a £370 million investment by 2010, but says it highlights a lack of progress on lung cancer treatment and care.
Plans include:
- Possible ban on cigarette vending machines
- A possible trial of CT screening for lung cancer
- Speeding up drug approval
- More money for radiotherapy
- Tougher regulations on sun beds
“The UK has made great progress in some cancers and the Cancer Reform Strategy will make sure that progress continues, but we need similar advances in lung cancer treatment and care too,” says Dame Helena Shovelton, Chief Executive of the British Lung Foundation.
“We welcome the prospect of a much-needed ban on tobacco vending machines and support a CT screening trial for lung cancer, but a commitment to more lung cancer research is needed - this is a vastly underfunded area, despite the fact that lung cancer kills more women than breast cancer.
“The UK Lung Cancer Coalition, of which the British Lung Foundation is a member, has recently produced a 12 point Lung Cancer Plan demonstrating how lung cancer survival could be doubled in the next 8 to 10 years. We urge the government to take note.”
For more information on the Lung Cancer Plan click here.
