WALTHAM Forest has one of the lowest survival rates for bowel and lung cancer in the country – according to shock Government figures published today.

The Cancer Reform Strategy's report is aimed at highlighting areas with low cancer survival rates.

The figures show that slightly more than half (57.9 per cent) of patients diagnosed with bowel cancer in Waltham Forest survive a year.

This compares to 72.5 per cent for neighbouring Redbridge, 67.1 per cent in Tower Hamlets and 64.7 per cent in Newham.

Only Hastings and Rother Primary Care Trust (PCT) in Sussex had a lower rate (57.8) in the country.

The figures for lung cancer survival are also worrying for the borough, with just over a fifth (21.8 per cent) surviving a year.

This is the lowest figure in London and among the highest in the country.

The figures are likely to lead to fears that the disease is not being detected early enough in the borough.

The report states that “later diagnosis has been a major factor in the poorer survival rates in England compared with other countries in northern and western Europe.”

The latest figures however come just months after the PCT's annual public health report showed that the number of deaths in the borough from colorectal cancer had nearly halved.

Waltham Forest's survival rate for breast cancer was relatively low at 93.1 per cent, but was better than several London boroughs including Newham, Hackney, Barnet, Lambeth and Ealing.

Ciaran Devane, chief executive at Macmillan Cancer Support ,said: “We welcome the publication of this data.

“This will provide an opportunity for the whole NHS to learn from the success of the best performing PCTs and will help to improve standards across the board.”

Andy Burnham, health secretary said: “We know that survival rates vary across the country, particularly in deprived areas, so this year’s report has deliberately focused on local variations so we can highlight to the NHS where they need to take action.”

The Guardian is awaiting a response to the figures from NHS Waltham Forest (the primary care trust).

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