Warnings of a ‘ticking time bomb’ of untreated cancers
THE virus has created a “ticking time bomb” of undiagnosed and untreated cancer, a charity has warned.
Macmillan Cancer Support has estimated that nearly 2,000 people a week are going undiagnosed due to Covid-19 concerns in hospitals and GP surgeries.
Policy director Steven McIntosh said: “We’ve seen a very worrying drop in the number of people coming forward with suspected cancer symptoms to be referred for diagnosis by their GPs.
“That’s why we’re warning that the size of this ticking time bomb is deeply worrying for people who are living with cancer. It is also storing up huge problems for the NHS in trying to diagnose and treat cancer.
“We have also seen significant disruption to cancer surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.”
A survey of 100 cancer patients who support Macmillan’s campaigning work showed almost half (45 per cent) had seen their cancer treatment delayed, cancelled or changed as a result of coronavirus.
The charity, which has seen a rise in damand, is also faced with losing up to half of its annual revenues due to Covid.
Its warning followed a study from the Institute of Cancer Research, London, that suggested putting off cancer surgeries for three months could lead to almost 5,000 excess deaths in England alone.
But an NHS spokesman insisted cancer care remained a priority and that almost 30,000 people began treatment in March – the highest monthly number on record.
He added: “The NHS has now set out guidance so that hospitals can further increase the number of cancer tests and treatments they carry out, as well as extra capacity to treat future coronavirus patients.
“So our message to anyone worried about symptoms is: help us help you, and seek help as you always would.”