Crisis sees 2.5m people miss cancer tests and treatment

NEARLY 2.5 million people have missed cancer tests, treatments and hospital appointments as a result of the coronavirus pandemic according to Cancer Research UK.

The backlog includes 2.1 million patients who are awaiting breast, cervical and bowel cancer screenings. A further 290,000 urgent referral patients are awaiting clarity on whether or not they have tumours.

And at least 21,600 patients have had surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy postponed in the past nine weeks.

The breakdown of missed, delayed and cancelled appointments comes amid fears that people with cancer symptoms are not being diagnosed because they are avoiding GP surgeries and hospitals due to the Covid-19 risk.

Professor Charles Swanton, the charity’s chief clinician, told the Daily

Mail: “My colleagues and I have seen the devastating impact of this pandemic on both patients and NHS staff.

“Delays to diagnosis and treatment could mean that some cancers will become inoperable.”

According to the data from Cancer Research 12,800 patients across the UK have missed surgeries, 6,000 have missed chemotherapy while a further 2,800 have not had necessary radiotherapy appointments

A major study by University College London published last month warned nearly 20,000 more patients could die from cancer in the next year because of treatment being reduced during the lockdown.

The study shows that on average attendance for chemotherapy has fallen by 60 per cent, with a 76 per cent drop in urgent referrals of suspected cancer.

An NHS spokesman said: “Cancer services are largely now open, ready and able to receive all patients who need care.”