Survival by stage

To assess the impact of early diagnosis campaigns, screening programmes and improvements in healthcare it is important to have accurate and complete detail on the stage of a cancer at diagnosis. Stage is a measure of how much a cancer has grown and spread, with later stages having poorer outcomes. The quality of staging data has improved greatly in recent years, with completeness for all cancers combined (excl. NMSC) at 76% in 2013, exceeding the goal of 70% (figures from the NHS CCGOIS, stage completeness, 2014). Completeness varies by site, with figures for breast, colorectal, lung, ovarian and prostate cancers being relatively high. There also remains substantial variation by CCG.

Cancer breakdown by stage

Stage breakdown by CCG 2017

Data were extracted from the English National Cancer Registration Service database CAS (Cancer Analysis System) which has a staging flag pre-calculated.

Early stage at diagnosis tool

A tool containing the most recent stage at diagnosis data presented at CCG level quarterly and with a 1-year rolling average. See here for more information. 

Survival Outputs

The completeness of staging data continues to improve, allowing clearer interpretation of the cancer survival by stage figures. Survival estimates by stage at diagnosis now form part of the National Statistics, published in partnership with the Office for National Statistics:

Survival by stage related studies

Routes to diagnosis of cancer by stage, 2012-2013: This spread sheet provides the proportion of cancer cases by stage at diagnosis for patients presenting via each of the six presentation routes, for 2012, 2013 and 2012-2013 combined. Detailed information is provided for 10 cancer sites.

Interpreting geographic variation in cancer stage: This report examines two measures, firstly the completeness of staging data and secondly the proportion of early staged (I or II) cancers at Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) level and former cancer registry areas.

Stage at diagnosis and early mortality from cancer in England: this article in the British Journal of Cancer summarises the stage breakdown and impact on survival for 5 cancer types in 2012.