Lung cancer care has improved in England and Wales, but the level is still below that offered in many other countries, a report by the Information Centre for health and social care (IC) has revealed.
The study shows a small increase in the number of patients receiving lung cancer treatment.
However, at nine per cent, the proportion of patients having surgery - the main curative treatment for lung cancer - remains lower than the European averages of 26 per cent for under-70s and 14 per cent for over-70s.
Dr Jesme Fox, medical director of the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, said that lung cancer is a devastating disease and that patients should be able to expect a high standard of care.
"Rather disturbingly, this report shows that care in England and Wales still lags behind Europe and the US. Patients have a right to expect more," Dr Fox insisted.
Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in the UK.
