Most lung and bowel cancers being diagnosed too late, data shows

Cancer Australia data prompts calls for governments to help develop early detection tests

Most Australians with lung and bowel cancers are being diagnosed too late, data released by Cancer Australia shows, prompting renewed calls for governments to make developing early detection tests a priority.

Just 18% of lung cancer cases recorded in 2011 were caught early, at either stage 1 or stage 2, the research shows. For two out of five patients (42%), the disease had already spread to other organs in the body. And less than half (46%) of colorectal cancer cases were diagnosed at an early stage.