‘Significant’ variations in survival rate for bowel cancer surgery

The survival rate following surgery for bowel cancer in hospitals in England, varies ‘significantly’.

Research published online in Gut, finds that the 30 day survival rate for colorectal cancer surgery in the UK is also generally poor compared to other countries.

Researchers studied 161,000 patients undergoing major bowel surgery at 150 hospitals between 1998 and 2006.

Patients aged over 80 years were more likely to die, as were those with other underlying conditions and those who were in advanced stages of the disease.

People living in area of deprivation and those needing emergency surgery are also at a higher risk of death.

Just under 7 per cent of people died within 30 days of major surgery for bowel cancer across all hospital trusts in England.