The struggle to improve cancer outcomes across Europe continues. Key ingredients are understood to be patient awareness and readiness to consult, a high index of suspicion among GPs, supported by accurate information about the prognostic significance of symptoms and signs, timely access to investigations, and rapid transition from diagnosis to treatment in secondary and tertiary care.
Historically the UK and Denmark have lagged behind other OECD countries in terms of cancer survival, possibly because of structural similarities in their primary care systems, including a strong gatekeeping element. Now, following the Danish example, the NHS has announced the establishment of 10 rapid access cancer diagnostic centres in pilot sites across England.1 The centres will each operate in a slightly different way, but essentially patients suspected of cancer, …