A dearth of chest specialists may be another reason for poor cancer survival rates in the UK, say experts.
Lung cancer is the UK's most common cancer, and one of the most lethal.
BTS But a chronic shortage of lung specialists is making a mockery of government pledges that all suspected cases will be seen within two weeks, says the British Thoracic Society. According to their figures, there is only one specialist chest physician for every 119,000 people in this country, compared to a European average of one per 60,000. The shortage means that many patients suspected of having lung cancer are seen by more general physicians. While this does not automatically mean that their care is worse, many of the advances in lung cancer treatment are recent, and it is more difficult for non-specialists to keep abreast of best practice. In the US, one in 10 live past the five year mark.