NHS medics face a ‘silver tsunami’ of cancer cases
HEALTH services will be hit by a “silver tsunami” of older cancer patients over the next two decades, warned top oncologists.
An ageing population is expected to fuel a boom in more complex cases which will increase pressure on the NHS.
Experts called for urgent action to grow the medical workforce as they warned the world was “not prepared”.
Dr Andrew Chapman, of Philadelphia’s Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, said: “As we age, the potential to develop cancer increases. Because people are living longer, there’s going to be more cancer incidence which means a higher volume of people that we need to take care of and their needs are very unique. I think globally, we’re not prepared.”
He warned of the risk at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s annual conference in Chicago this weekend.
The number of annual diagnoses in the UK is projected to rise by a third by 2040, passing half a million for the first time.
Cases involving patients aged over 70 will rise from half now to six in 10, say Cancer Research UK.
Professor Charles Swanton, CRUK’s chief clinician, said older patients often require more careful management, adding patients on multiple medications can be an issue. Older patients are more likely to have other underlying health conditions which make treatment more challenging.
They may also have different priorities when it comes to treatment, Dr Chapman said, adding: “They want to go to weddings, they want to see their grandkids, they want to play golf. If you’re going to give somebody treatment that’s going to take that away, they may not want it.”
An NHS spokesperson said the service is treating record numbers for cancer and rolling out initiatives for early diagnosis.
Backlog
NHS staff shortages are hindering efforts to clear backlogs and cut waiting times. In March, 64 per cent of cancer patients began treatment within two months of an urgent referral. The target is 85 per cent.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said there are more staff than ever working in the NHS with “50 per cent more specialist cancer doctors”.
CRUK analysis suggests annual cancer deaths will climb from 167,000 to 208,000.
Prof Swanton said there is an opportunity to prepare in the next two years. He added: “We have to act quickly.”