Less Survivable Cancers Awareness Week aims to increase the visibility of six statistically less survivable cancers: lung, pancreatic, liver, brain, oesophageal and stomach. Despite the remarkable progress of other cancers, survival rates for these six has remained low for the last 40 years.

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Early diagnosis is key to effective treatment planning and improved patient outcomes. To help raise awareness, we’re sharing the common symptoms for each of these cancers.

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In the UK, around 9,000 people are diagnosed with oesophageal cancer each year. It’s the 8^th most common cancer worldwide but only 2% of people surveyed could correctly identify the symptoms.

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If you are aged 55-74, currently smoke or have smoked and have been invited to participate in the Targeted Lung Health Check Programme in your region, please consider taking part.

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Around 5,700 people in the UK are diagnosed with primary liver cancer each year. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer.

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In the UK, around 12,000 people are diagnosed with brain cancer each year, including primary brain and central nervous system tumours. Brain cancer can affect anyone at any age.

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The risk of developing stomach cancer increases with age, over half of people who develop it are 75 or older. It's also more common in men than women. Doctors do not know exactly what causes stomach cancer but there are certain risk factors: gender, age, smoking and diet.

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Pancreatic cancer can be difficult to diagnose early, because symptoms rarely show until the cancer has already spread to other organs. For more than half of these patients, their diagnosis often comes too late, reducing their treatment options and chances of a positive prognosis. PLEASE NOTE: These symptoms could have more common causes.

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Early diagnosis is vital for effective treatment and improved patient outcomes and we support with fast access to appointments and quick turnaround on results. We're proud to be at the forefront of PET-CT, CT and MRI diagnostics and we're continually investing in innovative research and development to advance our imaging capabilities. As a trusted NHS partner, we're helping to reduce patient waiting lists for scans and improve access to life-saving diagnostics across the UK.

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The Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce aims to double survival rates for these six cancers in the next 10 years. The Taskforce brings together six charities representing patients from each of these cancers to call for urgent change. If you’re concerned that you are displaying one or more of these symptoms, please contact your GP.