Have you been diagnosed with a brain tumour? Order your free information pack.

Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce

We’re proud founding members of the Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce and are committed to closing the deadly cancer gap together. 

A photo taken at a meeting of the Less Survivable Cancers taskforce. A bunch of people are sat around a table strategising how to close the deadly cancer gap.

On this page, we’ll look at:

What is the Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce?

The Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce is a coalition of charities that are committed to improving survival rates for people affected by the six less survivable cancers – cancer of the brain, lung, liver, stomach, pancreas and oesophagus.  

The Taskforce is made up of six charities: 

  • Action Against Heartburn 
  • The Brain Tumour Charity 
  • British Liver Trust 
  • Guts UK 
  • Pancreatic Cancer UK 
  • Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation.

Why was the Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce established? 

Over 90,000 people are diagnosed with one of the less survivable cancers in the UK each year. Tragically, only 16% of people diagnosed with one of these cancers will survive for five years or longer and this statistic hasn’t significantly improved in decades. 

This is in stark contrast with many other common cancers, where there have been great improvements in outcomes and survival rates over the last few decades – for example, breast, prostate or skin cancer. Currently, the average five-year survival rate for other common cancers is 69%. 

The Taskforce was established to close this gap in survival rates between the less survivable cancers and other common cancers. The goal is to make sure that people diagnosed with one of the less survivable cancers see similar improvements in survival rates as other common cancers. 

What does the Less Survivable Cancer Taskforce want to achieve? 

In September 2018, the Taskforce set itself a target of doubling survival over the next ten years for lung, liver, brain, stomach, pancreatic and oesophageal cancers.  

At that time, the survival rate of less survivable cancers was just 14%, so we’ve been collectively working to ensure we double the survivability of these six cancers to 28% by 2029. 

A Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce banner that lists their goal of increasing the five-year survival rate for somebody diagnosed with one of the less survivable cancers to 28% by 2029.

What does the Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce do?

The Taskforce raises awareness of the less survivable cancers and campaigns to make sure more is done to improve survival rates. 

This includes: 

  • submitting evidence to Government and NHS inquiries, consultations and reports 
  • meeting and engaging with policymakers in Government and the NHS 
  • developing reports to illustrate the need for improvements and share recommendations on how to make those improvements 
  • engaging with the press and media to showcase the work done by the Taskforce 
  • working with patient advocates to share their experiences of less survivable cancers 
  • collaborating with other organisations, charities and coalitions to improve outcomes for people diagnosed with less survivable cancers. 

What has the Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce achieved?

  • In 2019, the Taskforce published a report that uncovered the underfunding of the less survivable cancers (£350m between 2007 and 2016) when compared to other common cancers (£1.6bn between 2007 and 2016)  
  • In 2020, the Taskforce published a report that outlined how UK health services could diagnose less survivable cancers earlier 
  • In 2022, the Taskforce launched the annual Less Survivable Cancers Awareness Day that now happens on the 11 January each year 
  • In 2022, the Taskforce also launched a sub-group in Wales that’s dedicated to improving the outcomes and experiences of those with less survivable cancers in Wales. 
  • In 2023, following extended engagement and campaigning by the Taskforce, the Scottish Government published a new Cancer Strategy and 3-Year Action Plan that features a strategic priority on the less survivable cancers 
  • Also, in 2023, the Taskforce launched a groundbreaking survey to help better understand the palliative care experiences of people affected by diagnosis of one of the less survivable cancers 
  • In 2023, the Taskforce were also shortlisted for Charity Partnership of the Year award at the Third Sector Awards 2023. 

Latest news from the Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce

Campaign with us

Sign up to campaign with us and help us to ensure the issues which affect the brain tumour community remain a political priority.

Find out more

In this section

Want to make a difference for those affected by brain tumours?

Join our group of passionate campaigners if you want to be part of our movement and help us create meaningful, lasting change!

Campaign with us?

Latest news from the Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce