16 June 2008
A recent NHS Cancer Screening programme audit has revealed some encouraging news about the benefits of early detection of breast cancer through screening.
The audit, first reported by the BBC*, found that women whose early stage breast cancer is discovered by screening are likely to have the same lifespan as those who have never had the disease. Doctors have for many years talked about the importance of early detection in developing an effective treatment programme for patients.
These new findings demonstrate that, not only can early detection lead to a course of treatment that will prolong the patient’s life, it may in fact enable doctors to explore treatment options that allow some patients to live as long as women who never suffer from cancer.
Nick Perry, Consultant Radiologist and Clinical Director of the Comprehensive Breast Care Centre at The Princess Grace Hospital says “Numerous randomised controlled trials demonstrate conclusively that breast cancer screening using mammography reduces a woman’s chance of dying of breast cancer by approximately 40%”
This is great news, without a doubt, but according to articles in the PharmaTimes and Medical Laboratory World there is still room for improvement where screening is concerned.
PharmaTimes** has noted that men and over 65s often lack access to crucial cancer screenings while Medical Laboratory World*** has revealed that teenagers must often endure long waiting times between diagnosis and treatment. HCA hospitals are doing their part to fill the void by providing a very wide range of diagnostic tests and technologies to enable effective screening for all types of cancer.
The HCA private cancer care network www.hcacancercare.co.uk is the most advanced in the UK, with the latest diagnostic and treatment technologies available in Britain. Each year HCA diagnoses and treats more than 20,000 people, from screening to surgery and radiotherapy for all types of cancer from the most common to the rarest and most severe forms. The network is called Gold Standard cancer care www.hcacancercare.co.uk/gold-standard-cancer-care
HCA provides a comfortable, non-threatening setting for cancer screening, with some of the UK’s finest consultants and compassionate nursing staff available to answer any questions a patient may have. Patients are seen promptly by expert oncologists and if any tests confirm the presence of cancer they have the resources of the entire cancer care network at their disposal.
For more information about HCA’s unique cancer care network please visit HCA Cancer Care www.hcacancercare.co.uk
HCA is London’s largest private healthcare group. The HCA network is made up of six world-class hospitals, The Harley Street Clinic, The Wellington Hospital, The London Bridge Hospital, The Portland Hospital, The Lister Hospital and the Princess Grace Hospital, as well as four outpatient facilities conveniently located throughout London. HCA also has partnerships with two leading NHS teaching hospitals in London to provide specific very specialised services for the treatment of blood, brain and bone cancers. With more than 3,000 consultants and the latest diagnostic and treatment technology, HCA is the private hospital group of choice for London and the UK.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7447935.stm
http://www.pharmatimes.com/UKNews/article.aspx?id=13681
http://www.mlwmagazine.com/story.asp?sectioncode=201&storyCode=2048167
