In heartbreaking pictures, human face of cancer epidemic that is now threatening 100,000 patients
POSING happily for photographs, these two young women look to be the picture of health.
But tragically, Latifah King, 27, and Kelly Smith, 31, both died of cancer after delays in treatment due to Covid lockdowns.
Young mother Miss Smith had her chemotherapy for bowel cancer paused for three months in the first lockdown. Meanwhile, Miss King – who was at first told she had sciatica – was not able to see a doctor in person or offered any tests, and died a week after her diagnosis.
Their stories were revealed as scores of MPs today warn the Prime Minister that Britain is facing a ‘cancer disaster’ that could cost tens of thousands of lives.
A group of 75 cross-party politicians say that as many as 100,000 people could miss out on cancer treatment due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, with many dying unnecessarily.
They have written to Boris Johnson demanding the cancer backlog is ‘tackled with the same political will as the vaccination rollout’.
‘The Government have rightly moved heaven and earth to save lives from Covid – it’s time the same was done for cancer patients,’ the MPs say.
Millions of people have been hit by disruption to cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment since Britain went into lockdown last March. Some grieving relatives have suggested that cancer patients have become ‘collateral damage’, with the NHS focused on Covid.
The All Party Parliamentary Group for Radiotherapy, backed by leading cancer charities, say urgent investment is now needed to boost NHS capacity so staff can treat and diagnose more patients.
Chairman Tim Farron said: ‘We are deeply concerned the Government has
‘It doesn’t have to be this way’
underestimated the scale and severity of the Covid cancer backlog. Without extra capacity, the backlog will not get cleared for many years and thousands of loved ones will die unnecessarily.’
The MPs say 50,000 patients are thought to be living with undiagnosed cancer due to disruption caused by Covid-19.
‘This figure could rise as high as 100,000 by the time we emerge from the pandemic,’ their letter says. ‘The question is not whether we should save Covid patients or cancer patients… we can and should be able to save both.’
Early diagnosis and prompt treatment is crucial to survival chances. Every fourweek delay in cancer treatment increases the risk of death by ten per cent.
But last year saw the lowest number of people starting cancer treatment in England for ten years, with cancer surgery alone down by 21,700 in the first wave.
About 330,000 fewer people saw a specialist for suspected cancer between March and December, as the ‘stay at home’ message put people off getting symptoms checked.
In today’s letter to the PM and Chancellor, the coalition of MPs warn: ‘Cancer lives are already being lost and we may lose as many as 35,000 patients and 60,000 life years to cancer as a result of the cancer backlog.’ They are calling for a new national cancer recovery plan to ‘avoid a post-Covid cancer catastrophe’.
Experts say funding is urgently needed for equipment such as advanced radiotherapy machines, which provide treatment more quickly, to help doctors clear the enormous backlog. Extra capacity is essential because cancer services must run at 120 per cent of ‘normal’ levels – at least – to make up for the shortfall.
Professor Pat Price, a leading oncologist and founder of the Catch Up With Cancer campaign, warned delays meant patients were coming forward with more advanced cancer than usual.
She told the Daily Mail: ‘We are going to be looking back in years to come at a Covid-caused cancer nightmare that led to as many cancer patients being lost unnecessarily as we lose to coronavirus itself.
‘It doesn’t have to be this way. We can save both Covid and cancer patients. But that needs a change in approach... and hard cash...
‘By the end of the pandemic there could be a backlog of 100,000 untreated cancer patients. These are people who since last April should have been diagnosed with new or relapsed cancer and had all their treatment but have not. Some still won’t have been diagnosed. Thousands of people are going to die who didn’t need to have done.’ Professor Price added: ‘There are straightforward steps such as replacing old radiotherapy machines or scanners that can help clear the backlog, to increase treatment and diagnosis rates.
‘Newer radiotherapy machines can do one round of treatment in 15 minutes, whereas older models take 45 minutes. That means you could treat three times as many people.’
In their letter the MPs said the Spring Budget – due on March 3 – would be the ‘ideal opportunity’ for investment in a new cancer recovery plan.
Michelle Mitchell, Cancer Research UK’s chief executive, said: ‘The Government must urgently make sure the NHS gets the funding it needs. This Spring Budget could be that moment to help give every person with cancer the timely diagnosis and treatment they deserve.’
Cancer services in Scotland have been operating on an urgent-only basis since March. Breast, bowel and cervical screening was halted for several months last year.
The number of Scots diagnosed with cancer in March to June 2020 was 4,000 – 40 per cent less than the previous year. That was due to a combination of fewer people coming forward with symptoms and the halt on screening.
The NHS in Scotland is now using private hospitals to help get the most urgent patients seen.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘We are aware that this has been an incredibly difficult time for people with cancer. We would encourage anyone experiencing worrying symptoms to contact their GP practice.
‘In December, we published a National Cancer Recovery Plan, with a planned investment of up to £114.5 million, which will improve patients’ experience of care and will roll out innovative treatments to improve services.’