Cancer after care scandal
NHS ends key follow-ups far too early, says study
CANCER patients are abandoned by the NHS while still at high risk of death, claims a patients’ rights group.
The accusation is based on a study unveiled at the world’s biggest cancer conference showing NHS patients’ care is stopped up to three years earlier than is safe.
Joyce Robbins, director of Patient Concern, said: “It’s terrifying cancer that patients are being abandoned.”
A lack of follow-up care can mean returning tumours may not be spotted until it is too late.
The University of Texas study of 2.3 million patients, presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago, may help explain why UK survival rates lag behind similar developed countries.
Lung cancer check-ups in England end after five years, says the British Lung Foundation. But the US study found it should be monitored for nine years. And charity Target Ovarian Cancer say UK patients are also followed-up for just five years, also four years sooner than the study recommends.
Ms Robbins added: “People should be getting the full follow-up they deserve when at high-risk.”
Dr Richard Russell, of the British Lung Foundation, said: “There is an urgent need to clarify this data.”
Health watchdog NICE sets guidelines for some cancer followup period but not others.
It said: “Our guidance allows doctors to work with patients to find out what they would prefer.”
NHS England said: “People diagnosed with cancer benefit from personalised care and support.”