Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce (LSCT)

Guts UK is a founding member of the Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce (LSCT), a partnership of six charities targeting six overlooked and underfunded cancers with the lowest survival rates.

The six less survivable cancer types are brain, liver, lung, oesophageal, pancreatic and stomach. In the UK, 90,000 people are diagnosed with one of these cancer types every year.

Four of these six cancers are digestive cancers and Guts UK provides information and support for three of these cancer types:

Why does the LSCT exist?

The Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce (LSCT) was set up by six charities that identified a stark difference in the survival rates for different cancer types.

While some cancer types such as breast and prostate cancer have seen an improvement in their survival rates, cancers of the brain, liver, lung, oesophagus, pancreas and stomach have not seen their survival rates improve for over 40 years.

Following decades of underfunding and a lack of prioritisation, the five-year survival rate for these cancer types is less than 20% and the less survivable cancers receive five times less funding than more survivable cancer types.

Currently, these six cancers are collectively responsible for almost half of all common cancer deaths in the UK.

What are we doing to change this?

The Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce is campaigning to double the five-year survival rates for each of the six less survivable cancers. We want the Government and NHS England to take action by prioritising improving outcomes for everyone diagnosed with a less survivable cancer and committing to doubling survival to 28% by 2029. We are asking for clear targets, improvements in early diagnosis and pathways, and an investment in research.

Read more about the actions taken by the LSCT here.

Ross, a family advocate, is pictured with a member of Scottish Parliament, Jackie Baillie, in Scotland. They are holding a Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce sign and smiling at the camera.
Ross, a patient and family advocate for stomach cancer, attended a Less Survivable Cancers Awareness Day event at Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh in January 2025.

How can you help?

If you or someone you love has been affected by a digestive cancer, please consider sharing your story with us to help raise awareness and add your voice to our campaign. You can submit a story sharing form online or email us at comms@gutscharity.org.uk.

Who are the Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce partners?

LSCT is made up of the following six charities:

Please visit the Less Survivable Cancer Taskforce website for information on how you can get involved and support our work.

DISCOVER MORE:

Members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Less Survivable Cancers meet. They are stood and sat around a boardroom table. Papers can be seen on the table.

Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce website

Two members of the Guts UK team - Diane and Helen - stand in front of Colin our inflatable colon. They wear Guts UK branded t-shirts and hold our patient information leaflets in their hands. They are smiling at a man, who has his back to the camera. He has short dark hair and wears a long sleeved grey sweatshirt.

What we do at Guts UK

Ross, a family advocate, is pictured with a member of Scottish Parliament, Jackie Baillie, in Scotland. They are holding a Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce sign and smiling at the camera.

Ross' hereditary stomach cancer story

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