Despite the name, rare and less common cancers account for nearly half of new cancer diagnoses1
They affect people of all ages, genders, ethnicities and locations. However, the nature of these conditions means that people can often face a range of issues, such as recognising symptoms, obtaining a diagnosis, receiving the most suitable treatment or getting appropriate levels of support.
‘Do You C Us?’ aims to unite Pfizer, Cancer52 and its member charities to raise awareness of the challenges facing people living with rare and less common cancers and highlight the need for change to address these.
Although 47% of cancers diagnosed in England are rare or less common, 55% of people die from these cancers.
Cancer52 (2020) Getting a Better Deal for Rare and Less Common Cancers.
Approximately 144,600 people in England are diagnosed with a rare or less common cancer every year.
Cancer52 (2020) Getting a Better Deal for Rare and Less Common Cancers.
The total number of people living with a rare or less common cancer in the UK is estimated to grow to 2.06 million by 2040
Br J Cancer 2012;107:1195-202 doi: 10.1038/bjc.2012.366. Maddams J, Utley M, Moller H. Projections of cancer prevalence in the United Kingdom, 2010-2040.