Coronavirus: Up to 50,000 cancers going undiagnosed due to COVID, report finds
The charity estimates 33,000 Britons have had their cancer treatments postponed as a result of COVID-19 restrictions.
Thursday 29 October 2020 03:43, UK
Up to 50,000 people in the UK have cancer but have not been diagnosed because of disruption caused by the pandemic, a new report has found.
Macmillan Cancer Support published the findings which warn COVID-19 has created a backlog of undiagnosed cancer which, at best, could take a further 18 months to tackle in England alone.
It's a crisis that will only worsen as coronavirus cases continue to rise, it found, predicting the number of cancers left undiagnosed could double in a year if the delays in cancer referrals and screening are not fixed.
The charity also estimates there are 33,000 Britons who have had their treatment postponed as a result of COVID-19 restrictions.
Lynda Thomas, Chief Executive at Macmillan Cancer Support, said the report showed "cancer is at a crossroads" and called on the government to ensure cancer services are open and sufficiently-resourced.
"Because of the pandemic, we estimate that an additional 50,000 people are missing a cancer diagnosis and others are having their appointments disrupted once again," she said.
"It is simply unacceptable if they face unbearable and unprecedented delays which could affect their chances of survival.
"Cancer doesn't stop for Covid-19 and neither can our health services. Governments need to promise every person with cancer that they won't be forgotten and ensure cancer services are protected, come what may."
Ms Thomas said it was crucial there was no redeployment of equipment, beds, or cancer nurses and clinicians over the colder months and that access to coronavirus testing and equipment was guaranteed.
The charity's call came as NHS national medical director Professor Stephen Powis said hospitals in Liverpool, Lancashire and Nottingham are treating more coronavirus patients than they did in April - with the latter forced to cancel four cancer operations due to "pressure on intensive care units".
But a spokesperson for the health service in England said Macmillan's findings are "flawed" adding: "Because thanks to the hard work of NHS staff, cancer treatments are actually back to pre-pandemic levels.
"The majority of people who have not been diagnosed are people who have not come forward for checks and so our message is clear - if you have worrying symptoms you must get this checked - the NHS is ready and able to treat you."
Similar concerns to Macmillan's have been raised by medical professionals throughout the pandemic.
In July, dentists warned of a looming dental and mouth cancer crisis due to months of delays and patients being unable to get check-ups and repair work.
And earlier this month, Sky News revealed thousands of cancer patients could miss out on vital blood tests and screening because of a breakdown in the supply chain to the NHS.
A "logistical failure" meant essential tests were sitting in a warehouse and unable to be shipped to NHS laboratories, according to the head of the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS).