LUNG cancer survival rates in Comet country are among the worst in the UK, new Department of Health figures have revealed. NHS East and North Hertfordshire has the fourth worst rate in the country, with an average of just 20.3 per cent of patients still a

LUNG cancer survival rates in Comet country are among the worst in the UK, new Department of Health figures have revealed.

NHS East and North Hertfordshire has the fourth worst rate in the country, with an average of just 20.3 per cent of patients still alive one year after being diagnosed with lung cancer.

The report by Professor Mike Richards - the country's cancer tsar - shows that the primary care trust with the worst survival rate is Herefordshire, with 15.4 per cent, and the best is Kensington and Chelsea, with 43.7 per cent.

Cancer services for patients in East and North Hertfordshire are overseen by the Mount Vernon Cancer Network, which brings together all clinicians and organisations with a part to play in planning and delivering cancer services.

Barbara Gill, director of the network, said: "We are disappointed we are not faring well in terms of one-year survival rates for lung cancer, in comparison with other areas, and detailed work is already underway to understand why.

"We know that if cancer is diagnosed early there is a greater chance of people surviving it and these figures highlight that we need to do more work locally to make people aware of the symptoms of common cancers and to seek help from their GP early."

She explained that the network is part of a national pilot project aimed at increasing early detection of cancer.

She said: "We will make sure we learn from those areas which have a better record than we do in Hertfordshire and will take robust action so that we improve the chances of survival for those of our residents who develop cancer.