Serious failings in NHS care for cancer patients have been laid bare by three separate reports . They reveal waiting times for scans are at their highest in seven years , there is an 'unacceptable ' postcode lottery in treatment and how Britain spends far less on new drugs than elsewhere in the Western world . Today the NHS will also announce which life-extending medications will be axed from its Cancer Drugs Fund because they are too expensive . Avastin , which is used for bowel and ovarian cancers , is one of the drugs at risk of being cut . Meanwhile GPs in the South of England have complained that NHS managers are delaying patients from having cancer tests to meet waiting times targets . As MPs warned that cancer care on the NHS had been 'diluted ' and was 'going backwards ' , a string of reports revealed how : . ÷ A total of 18,740 patients in January waited longer than six weeks for tests to diagnose cancer . The figure from Public Health England represents a 40 per cent increase in a year and the highest number since February 2008 . ÷ There is 'unacceptable ' and 'unexplained ' variation in cancer detection and treatment across England – particularly for the elderly . ÷ Evidence emerged showing the NHS spends less on new cancer treatments than the US , Spain , Germany and Scotland . The report by data analysts blamed NICE , the medications rationing body , for turning down too many drugs which are not deemed 'cost-effective ' . Not all the patients waiting for screening , such as CT scans , X-rays and ultrasounds , will have cancer . However , it is crucial diagnosis happens as quickly as possible so any tumours found can be removed or treated before they spread . Labour MP Margaret Hodge , who is chairman of the committee , said that despite the increasing numbers being diagnosed with cancer , the money being ploughed into the services had declined . Britain has one of the worst cancer survival rates in Europe and this has partly been blamed on late diagnosis as well as lack of availability of effective treatments . A report by the Public Accounts Committee warned of a postcode lottery in cancer detection and treatment across England . MPs were particularly concerned about the care for older patients – the group most at risk of cancer – who are often denied chemotherapy or surgery as they are thought to be too frail . Andy Burnham , Labour 's health spokesman , said : 'Cancer care has gone backwards and patients are missing out on the treatment they need ' Jevtana ( cabazitaxel ) Use : Advanced prostate cancer . Benefit : Extends survival for an average of three months but some men have lived for three more years . Cost : Around £22,000 . Zaltrap ( aflibercept ) Use : Bowel cancer . Benefit : Gives six weeks extra survival . Cost : £6,000 . Avastin ( bevacizumab ) Use : Bowel and ovarian cancers . Benefit : Prolongs life for between five and nine months . Cost : £12,000 for bowel and £16,000 for ovarian cancer . Tykerb ( lapatinib ) Use : Breast cancer . Benefit : Four months extra survival . Cost : £1,600 a month . Alimta ( pemetrexed ) Use : Lung cancer . Benefit : Three months extra life . Cost : £7,000 . Yondelis ( trabectedin ) Use : Ovarian cancer . Benefit : Average survival increased by six months . Cost : £57,000 . Labour MP Margaret Hodge , who is chairman of the committee , said that despite the increasing numbers being diagnosed with cancer , the money being ploughed into the services had declined . 'Focus on cancer has also been diluted at a local level , ' she said , adding : 'It is unacceptable that NHS England does not understand the reasons why access to treatment and survival rates are considerably poorer for older people . ' A report by the IMS Institute – an international firm which analyses data around the world – reveals how the NHS in England spends less on new cancer treatments per patient compared to Scotland , Sweden , Canada , Australia , France , Germany , the US , Italy and Spain . It allocates an average of £7,671 per new cancer patient compared to £16,661 , the highest of the ten countries . Juliet Bouverie , of Macmillan Cancer Support , said : 'Cancer care in England is in urgent need of improvement . ' Sarah Woolnough , of Cancer Research UK , said : 'It is depressing that too many patients are waiting longer than they should . ' Andy Burnham , Labour 's health spokesman , said : 'Cancer care has gone backwards and patients are missing out on the treatment they need . This slump in cancer standards is a scandal that needs to be stopped . ' It comes as GPs in the South of England have accused hospital managers of downgrading patients ' cancer risk to meet waiting time targets . It means that instead of being seen in two weeks , patients could have to wait up to six months . A letter obtained by Pulse magazine reveals how NHS officials have written to hospitals in Dorset and Hampshire warning them that the practice is 'inappropriate ' and 'against patients ' best interests ' . The Department of Health claimed that waiting times for scans are increasing because more patients are being referred by GPs . A spokesman said that five million more tests had been carried out last year compared to 2010 adding that cancer survival was at 'record levels ' .
18,740 patients in January waited longer than six weeks for cancer tests . The average wait time was more than a month and the highest number of people waiting over 12 months were those with breast cancer.