People in the north with breast cancer are more than twice as likely to get specialist treatment than those suffering with bowel cancer, according to a new report.

The Northern and Yorkshire Cancer Registry and Information Service (NYCRIS) says that only 38% of bowel cancer patients are treated by specialists.

But almost 90% of patients diagnosed with breast cancer will be operated on by a specialist surgeon.

They can also expect to wait less than one month between diagnosis and treatment.

High profile

Professor David Forman, who led the study, says this trend "reflects the fact that breast cancer has had a higher profile over the last decade".

The NYCRIS report, based on the latest available figures from 1999, is intended to give an accurate reflection of facilities in the region.

It found that general treatment for cancer patients in the north is still short of the national guidelines' target for 2005.

But 69% of cancers are being treated within one month of diagnosis.

Improving the specialist NHS workforce should remain a priority Sir Paul Nurse

That figure rises to 73% for men with testicular cancer - a 10% increase on the last figures - and 92% for breast cancer sufferers.

The report also found the number of lung cancer patients in the north is well above the national average.

Professor Forman believes this is because of the region's large number of smokers.

He warned: "There are concerns about the uptake of smoking by young women - something that will be reflected in future cancer statistics."

This form of the disease in the biggest cancer killer in the UK, followed by bowel cancer.

Sir Paul Nurse, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said the report supported the government's own statement that the NHS has too few cancer specialists.

He added: "Improving the specialist NHS workforce should remain a priority."

NYCRIS, based in Leeds, covers the entire Yorkshire region stretching from Northumberland and down as far as South Humber.