Cancer care lottery win

NEW figures just out on 10-year survival after cancer provided generally encouraging reading.

- Stan Abbott, Durham

In 2013 I was unfortunate to be diagnosed with a potentially advanced stomach cancer. I was, however, also fortunate in that I turned out to be a winner in the cancer postcode lottery.

Nearly half of all cancer patients will now be alive 10 years later.

But huge leaps in some types of cancer, such as testicular, mask poorer performance in other areas, pancreatic, stomach and oesophageal cancers a standout category.

This is because the Northern OesophagoGastric Unit at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle is among the leading world centres for the treatment of these latter two cancer types.