Oral cancer diagnosis and treatment statistics

'14-day / Two-week wait'

England meets the standard for their country on the percentage of patients first seen by a specialist within two weeks of urgent GP referral for suspected cancer.[1]

'Two-week wait' supports early diagnosis as spotting cancer early is important for improving survival, so it is important that patients with potential cancer symptoms are referred promptly.

'31-day wait'

Scotland and Northern Ireland meet the standard for their country on the percentage of patients that receive their first cancer treatment within 31 days of a decision to treat, while Wales does not meet the standard for their country.[2-4]

The speed at which patients receive their first treatment can have a positive outcome on their clinical outcome, so it is important that patients with cancer symptoms are treated promptly.

'62-day wait'

Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland do not meet the standard for their country on the percentage of patients receiving their first definitive treatment for cancer within two months of a GP referral for suspected cancer.[2-4]

The speed at which patients receive their first treatment can have a positive outcome on their clinical outcome, so it is important that patients with cancer symptoms are treated promptly.

Cancer waiting times coding and standards are different in each country and so comparisons should not be made between countries, only each country against their own measures.

Head and Neck Cancers, Waiting Times, UK countries, 2014-15

Almost half (48%) of oral cancer (excluding malignant neoplasm of the palate and of other and ill-defined sites) patients receive a major surgical resection as part of their cancer treatment.[1] 

The proportion of oral cancer patients receiving a resection varies with age, with fewer resections in the oldest age group (28% in those aged 85+) compared with the youngest (54% in those aged 15-54).[1]

Oral cancer (C01-C04, C06, C09-C10, C12-C13), Proportion of Patients Receiving a Major Surgical Resection, by Age, England, 2006-2010

• Download this data [xls]
• Download this data [ppt]
• Download this data [pdf]

92% of oral cancer patients rate their care as ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’.[1] Patient experience varies with individual needs and concerns, which are influenced by many aspects of personal background, disease characteristics and the care environment.

85% of patients were given the name of a Clinical Nurse Specialist in charge of their care.[1] Being given the name of a Clinical Nurse Specialist in charge of a patients’ care is the factor most likely to be associated with high patient satisfaction scores.[2]

59% said they saw their GP once or twice before being told they had to go to hospital.[1] How often a patient sees their GP before being referred to hospital varies by cancer type depending on ease of diagnosis.[3]

For oral cancer the proportion that said they saw their GP once or twice before being told they had to go to hospital is similar to the average for all cancer patients.[1]

Spotting cancer early is important for improving survival so it is important that patients with potential cancer symptoms are referred for tests promptly.

Oral Cancer (C00-C06,C09-C10,C12-C14), Patient Experience Survey, by Sex, England, 2014