More cash in cancer fight to save thousands of lives

Overhauling the country’s cancer strategy could save 5,000 lives a year, the Government has said.

It is committing £800m to improving survival rates, focusing on early testing, reports say.

There are also plans for sigmoidoscopy screening for bowel cancer, cash for more cancer specialists and a £10m awareness campaign as well as the already-announced £200m fund for extra cancer drugs not recommended by NICE.

According to the Daily Telegraph newspaper, Mr Lansley will say: “Cancer affects us all. Everyone will have a story of someone they love battling the disease. Our ambition is simple, to deliver survival rates that are among the best in Europe and this strategy outlines how we will make our first steps towards this.