Case-mix adjusted percentage of cancers diagnosed at stages 1 and 2 in England, 2020

Some cancer sites are excluded from the indicator due to higher levels of missing stage at diagnosis data. They were excluded on the basis that their inclusion would compromise the statistical robustness of the measure. 

The grouping of stages 1 and 2 in the numerator is intended to be an indication of the proportion diagnosed at an earlier stage when there might be more effective treatment options, improved quality of life, and increased survival following diagnosis. However, treatment decisions and responses, and other factors, will influence outcomes, not just stage at diagnosis alone. 

The smaller populations when analysing at a sub-ICB level create wider confidence intervals. The reliability measure accompanying the output provides an indication of the robustness of the value.