Survival rates from cancer in the UK are poorer than in much of Europe.
One reason is that the disease is often diagnosed later here.
In many cancers it has been shown that the earlier the diagnosis the better the outcome.
Cancer patients in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales do worse than people in France and Germany.
They are on a par with cancer patients in Poland and the Czech Republic in terms of surviving for as long as five years after diagnosis.
BBC NEWS | Health | Catching up on cancer diagnosis
There are four generations of cancer in my family and this is very worrying. Despite some of the highest taxes in Europe, we have third world medical care in this country.