POSTCODE LOTTERY FOR CANCER CARE

Up to half being put at more risk

- BY DAN WARBURTON

UP TO half of patients with some cancers are being put at greater risk because of a postcode lottery of care, says a body of senior doctors.

Kidney and colon NHS cancer patients are worst hit, adds the National Cancer Audit Collaborating Centre.

It says half of stage four renal cell carcinoma patients, whose type of kidney cancer has spread in the body, do not receive drug treatment.

More than a third of stage three colon cancer victims do not get chemotherapy within three months of surgery - rising to 60 per cent in some hospitals.