EARLY cancer detection targets in Scotland have been missed sparking calls from charities for urgent action.

Poorer Scots have highest proportion of late detections of breast, bowel and lung cancer

The Scottish Government set a goal in 2012 to boost the rate of breast, bowel and lung cancers found at the first stage by 25 per cent by the end of 2015.

However, new figures show the increase in early detection rates was only eight per cent, with none of Scotland’s health boards hitting the 25 per cent key target.

In 2014 and 2015, a quarter of patients were diagnosed at the earliest stage, with stark differences between Scotland’s richest and poorest communities.

For patients diagnosed with breast, bowel and lung cancer in the most deprived areas of Scotland, the highest proportion – 29.6 per cent – were diagnosed at the most advanced stage of disease while for those living in the least-deprived areas, the highest proportion – 28.8 per cent – were diagnosed at the earliest stage.

Cancer charity Macmillan described the progress of the Detect Cancer Early programme as “disappointing”.

Elspeth Atkinson, Macmillan’s director for Scotland, said: “If someone is diagnosed early they are more likely to survive cancer and less likely to experience long-term negative effects as a result of treatment.

“It is vital the NHS meet the targets set if they are ever to provide outcomes for cancer patients that match the best in Europe.”

Breast Cancer Now insisted “more needs to be done to detect breast cancer early”, particularly in deprived areas.

Director Mary Allison said: “The earlier you find breast cancer, the easier it is to treat. It is estimated that you’re five times more likely to survive breast cancer if it’s caught at its earliest stage.

“We believe that, by 2050, everyone who develops breast cancer will live – but only if we all act now. The Scottish Government shares this bold commitment to stop breast cancer deaths.”

Health secretary Shona Robison said it would take years before the “full impact” of their Detect Cancer Early programme was known.

She added: “Overall cancer death rates have dropped by 11 per cent over the past 10 years and early detection is vitally important to continuing this trend.

“The figures released today show that over 25 per cent of all breast, lung and bowel cancers diagnosed in Scotland during 2014 and 2015 were detected at stage one – an increase of eight per cent in the last five years.

“It will take many years before the full impact of our ambitious programme is realised, however we are already seeing improvements in public awareness and attitudes to cancer, including an increase in the uptake of bowel screening particularly from those in more deprived areas.”

Scottish Conservative health spokesman Donald Cameron said the Scottish Government had fallen “woefully short” on early detection.

Scottish Lib Dem health spokesman Alex Cole-Hamilton said ministers should work with health boards to find out why the targets weren’t being met.

Labour MSP Anas Sarwar said the figures show a “shocking link” between deprivation and late diagnosis.


'Catching breast cancer early saved my life'

GLASGOW woman Anita Neilson, pictured at a charity run, says she is lucky to survive breast cancer because she caught it early.

Speaking of her experience, the 52-year-old said: “I found a lump in the shower and went to the drop-in breast clinic to get checked. “Soon after this, I was given the news I had triple negative breast cancer. My husband and I went home, had a good cry and then vowed never to cry about it again.
“The first thing you think is: ‘am I going to die?’ You think unbearable things that you’ve never thought about before.
But, thanks to new treatments and research breakthroughs, breast cancer doesn’t have to mean death. After treatments and surgery, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a double mastectomy, I’m now free from breast cancer. I’m one of the lucky ones. Catching breast cancer early saved my life and I’m now able to live life to the full.”