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Almost half of cancers 'caught too late'

Almost half of cancers diagnosed in England are discovered late knocking back the chances of successful treatment, according to a report.

Some 52,000 cancer patients could improve their chances of survival if they were diagnosed early - and save the NHS £210 million, the report from Cancer Research UK claims.

Early-stage tumours can often be removed by surgery, but once a cancer has started to spread around the body it becomes much more difficult and costly to treat.

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GP check 'vital' if people 'notice anything unusual'

It is "vital" people check with their GPs as soon as something unusual happens to their bodies if they want the best chance to beat cancer, according to a healthy charity.

Sara Hiom, director of early diagnosis at Cancer Research UK explained:

Diagnosing cancer at its earliest stages is crucial to give patients the best chance of survival.

There are a number of reasons why cancer may be diagnosed at an advanced stage.

For some cancers, such as pancreatic, symptoms are often only noticeable once the tumour has already started to spread. But for many others there are chances for the cancer to be picked up earlier.

It's vital that people are aware of their body and if they notice anything unusual for them they should visit their GP. And GPs play a critical role of course, knowing when symptoms need to be investigated and referring patients promptly for tests.

– Sara Hiom
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Almost half of cancers 'caught too late'

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