The number of people suffering from cancer is increasing and the rising cost is spiralling out of c...

Cancer treatment is becoming unaffordable, say experts

The number of people suffering from cancer is increasing and the rising cost is spiralling out of control.

According to the Lancet Oncology report, there is a "culture of excess" and there is not enough evidence about the value of new drugs to make the cost worthwhile.

There are around 310,000 Britons diagnosed with cancer every year and that is expected to rise to 400,000 by 2030. The current cost of treating cancer in the UK is more than £5 billion, up from £3 billion in 2002.

The report, which calls on the expertise of 37 worldwide cancer specialists, says that in the UK alone, the number of cancer drugs has risen from 35 in the 1970s to nearly 100 which can be "exceedingly expensive".

The BBC cites the report saying: "Few treatments or tests are clear clinical winners, with many falling into the category of substantial cost for limited benefit".

The Lancet report also slams "futile care" – where expensive chemotherapy is provided in the last few weeks of life although there’s no medical benefit. 

The "culture of excess" means that doctors "overtreat, overdiagnose and overpromise" and the solution is brutal: cut the cost of services or the number of people getting the expensive treatment.

Many cancer drugs are so expensive the NHS cannot afford them. If you have medical insurance, there is likely to be a limit on the amount that can be spent on drugs and with many new treatments costing tens of thousands of pounds, this can soon be exhausted. However, you can get separate policies for cancer drug cover.