Lung cancer services a lottery

Lung cancer services are a lottery in which some patients receive inadequate care, a British Thoracic Society conference was told.

Particular problems were poor access to specialist care for the elderly and those in lower socio-economic groups, unacceptably long waiting times, and variations in practice.

Older patients were significantly less likely to receive active treatment for lung cancer, said Dr Robin Rudd, consultant chest physician at the London Chest Hospital.

He cited a study in Southend, Essex, which showed that surgery was undertaken in 18 per cent of those under 65, 12 per cent of those aged 65 to 74, and only 2.1 per cent of those over 75.