SURVIVAL rates for colorectal cancer patients in Barnsley one year on from their diagnosis has fallen in recent years.
Cancer Research UK said national figures show improvements in cancer survival, yet also highlight disparity across England.
The charity said chances of surviving cancer should not vary depending on where patients live.
NHS figures show 77.4 per cent of people diagnosed with colorectal cancer in Barnsley in 2020 survived the first year - down from a survival rate of 77.7 per cent in 2019.
However, it was up from a one-year survival rate of 76 per cent a decade prior in 2010.
Across England, the survival rate of colorectal cancer patients one year on from their diagnosis has increased from 77.9 per cent in 2010 to 80.5 per cent in 2020.
Michelle Mitchell, Cancer Research UK’s chief executive, said despite the data showing improvements in cancer survival in England, there is still ‘unacceptable’ disparity across England.
She said: “Our chances of surviving cancer should not vary depending on where we live.
She added workforce shortages area a critical barrier in deliver timely diagnosis and treatment for cancer patients and called on the government to publish a fully-costed workforce plan for England to improve staff recruitment and retainment.
The survival rate for all cancer patients one year on from diagnosis reached 74.6 per cent in 2020 up from 68.7 per cent a decade prior.
In Barnsley it has increased from 67.1 per cent in 2010 to 72.4 per cent in 2020.
The data also shows the one-year survival rate for women with breast cancer in Barnsley increased from 95.2 per cent in 2010 to 97.2 per cent in 2020.
Lung cancer patients’ survival rate was 47.6 per cent in 2020 - up from 33.8 per cent a decade prior.
Health Minister Helen Whately said: “These figures are highly encouraging and support those released earlier this year which show improved survival rates across almost all types of cancer.
“They are evidence of the great strides being made by the NHS, scientists and our incredible cancer charities.
“We know there is more to do and early diagnosis is crucial to improving survival rates even further.
“NHS England announced it is expanding direct access to diagnostic scans across all GP practices - that will cut waiting times and speed up diagnosis or the all-clear for patients.
“Since November, every GP team has been able to directly order CT scans, ultrasounds or brain MRIs for patients with concerning symptoms.
“Our ambition is to diagnose 75 per cent of cancer at an early stage by 2028 which will help save tens of thousands of lives for longer.”
