HALF of people with cancer symptoms don’t get a quick referral from their GP, according to a study.
It means that thousands of people across the country could be living with undiagnosed cancers with many ‘red flag’ symptoms being missed.
Experts have warned that half of people with cancer symptoms don’t get a quick enough referral from their GP
Around 12,000 women in the UK could be living with undiagnosed breast cancer because of a drop in screening appointments and specialist check-ups.
Two damning new reports add to fears the NHS is sitting on a cancer time-bomb.
An Exeter University study found just 40 per cent of people with “red flag” symptoms were urgently sent to a cancer doctor in 2015 – and one in 20 of them had the disease.
Everyone with a “red flag” symptom – including trouble swallowing, bleeding when going to the toilet, breast lumps or anaemia – should get checked for cancer under NHS rules.
Dr Jodie Moffat, head of early diagnosis at Cancer Research UK, said: “Referral guidelines are intended to help diagnose cancer earlier.
“It’s worrying if people with red flag symptoms aren’t being referred.”
An NHS spokesperson said: “The data referenced in this study is from 2014-15 and since then, urgent GP referrals for suspected cancer have been rising at around 200,000 each year, reaching 2.4million last year and at record levels again this year.”
During the pandemic many people lost out on vital checks and treatments.
Sherwin Hall, 27, from Leeds, West Yorkshire, went to hospital on March 23 suffering from leg pain – but despite repeated visits, he was initially only given a course of antibiotics.
He sadly passed away after begging for an MRI scan – when he was finally given one it revealed a tumour.
The family of another man who died from cancer also claimed the Covid pandemic caused delays.
The family of Stuart Cameron said he was ‘repeatedly denied treatment’.
It was also previously reported that thousands of Brits are at risk of dying from bowel cancer after Covid delayed diagnosis.
A study published on Sunday also found that bowel cancer diagnosis dropped by 40 per cent during Covid lockdowns.
And a separate report has warned the number of women not getting checked for breast cancer has spiked during the Covid crisis.
Breast Cancer Now said the list of missing women – who are overdue a screening appointment – has surged by 50 per cent to 1.5million.
As a result, as many as 12,000 may now have cancer without knowing.
Dr Jeanette Dickson, president of The Royal College of Radiologists, said: “Breast imaging and treatment services were massively under-resourced even before the pandemic hit.
“Now, screening teams are trying to fit two years’ worth of appointments into one to catch up.”
The NHS said: “Extra weekend and evening clinics will help every woman who needs a screen to access one.
“The NHS in England has also been offering open invitations to get screened, so if you’re invited for a screening appointment, please come forward and attend.”
