In recent months, the wait time for cancer has turned into grim reading as thousands of people still struggle with the agonizing wait to confirm a diagnosis or start treatment.
While recent data shows some improvement in waiting times for urgent referrals, the fact that only one out of nine cancer waiting time targets is currently being met shows that a system that leading charities say is simply not up to par.
The biggest hurdle to reducing wait times is a long-standing workforce shortage in areas such as endoscopy and post-mortem services on the NHS, while the ongoing impact of the pandemic means there are too many opportunities to diagnose cancer as early and as soon as possible. missed. Bowel cancer The UK has said it is “unacceptable” that so many people are waiting longer than recommended for a diagnosis.
Cancer diagnoses have dropped dramatically since the pandemic, but some types have been hit harder than others. For example, prostate cancer diagnoses are falling more and more, with 14,000 fewer men being diagnosed in February this year, more than a third of all missing cancer cases.
“That’s why we’ve launched a campaign with the NHS to reach out to men who haven’t spoken out and shared our 30-second risk check to help them understand their risk and what to do about it,” said Amy Rylance, head of improvement. Treatment for prostate cancer in the UK.
“This resulted in a record number of hospitalizations for prostate cancer above pre-pandemic levels and led to nearly 2,500 more men receiving treatment. However, at the current rate of recovery, it will take years to fully recover, and we fear that this will result in more men being diagnosed too late.
“Prostate cancer is treatable if caught early, but early prostate cancer often causes no symptoms. That’s why it’s so important to be aware of your risk. Men over 50 and men over 45 who are black or have a family history of the disease are at higher risk and should use the UK Prostate Cancer Risk Screening Program to learn more.
NHS England data from September 2022 shows more than 52,000 people with suspected symptoms of bowel cancer were on an urgent two-week waiting list for bowel checks – nearly 13,000 more than at that time last year. Of those, more than 15,000 waited longer than the 14-day target — about 8,500 more than at the same time last year.
Dr Lisa Wilde, director of research and external relations at Bowel Cancer UK, said: “We also know that 56% of patients rushed for suspected colorectal cancer do not receive a confirmed cancer diagnosis or rule out cancer within 28 days. Target. This is worrisome as it is a very anxious time for patients.
“Unfortunately, the demand for these tests far exceeds the number of appointments available, meaning that if more people are on the waiting list, they will have to wait longer. While most people on the waiting list will not have colon cancer, this can be a turbulent time so it is important that people can take action quickly to resolve issues and if someone does have colon cancer, early diagnosis is critical to getting the best possible results.
“Colon cancer is the fourth most common form of cancer in the UK and the second leading cause of cancer death, but it doesn’t have to be. It is curable if caught early.
Offering a home test to more people is an important way to improve colorectal cancer screening and meet the government’s goal of diagnosing more people early, the doctor said. savages. The NHS is also phasing out the age for routine screening to 50-59 over the next four years, with the age recently raised to 56 and 58. And NHS England recently issued guidelines for general practitioners to ensure that people with suspected colon cancer receive priority for further testing.
Like most problems facing the NHS, labor shortages remain a major problem, with England’s health sector boasting a record 133,000 job openings – almost one in ten. All cancer organizations I Spock said the prime minister must urgently address this issue in the upcoming 10-year cancer plan to reach the goal of 75% early detection of cancer by 2028.
If successful, by 2028, 55,000 people a year will carry cancer for at least five years after diagnosis. Consultations with the UK government ended in April, but there is still no sign of a plan.
The next version of England’s 10-year cancer plan, which aims to improve cancer treatment outcomes to compete with the best in Europe, will be released this summer. However, recent political unrest means there is no clear date for when the plan will appear.
Policy experts said the plan should not only outline how to address labor shortages, but also show how the additional equipment needed to diagnose more patients early would be adequately funded to improve outcomes and ultimately save more lives.
Training more NHS staff to become cancer specialists will take time, so Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s recent statement welcomed the independent evaluation of NHS staff needed now and in the future. However, it will be several more years before the results of additional training become apparent.
Screening services are also catching up with Covid-19 disruptions. An estimated 7,621 fewer people have been diagnosed with breast cancer since the start of the pandemic. In 2020/21 in England breast screenings were about 936,000 fewer women than last year, and invitations to routine breast screenings fell to 62%, well below the minimum standard of 70%.
Melanie Sturtevant, Associate Director of Policy, Evidence and Advocacy at Breast Cancer Now, said: “The most recent data on cancer wait times (for October 2022) in England confirmed our fears that we are still not fast enough. work for patients with breast cancer. . While we are pleased with the improvement in the proportion of people who came to us within two weeks of an urgent GP referral, we were still troublingly below our target. A large number of people also wait more than 62 days before starting breast cancer treatment.”
Charities and healthcare workers want urgent change but have come to terms with the fact that there is no quick fix. The NHS in England will need to be at 110 per cent for just over eight months to make up for the lack of cancer treatment, according to Macmillan Cancer Support’s latest analysis. However, the NHS in England has not managed to achieve this level of increased activity in any month for more than two years.
Minesh Patel, political head of the charity, said: “In a system that has already reached a breaking point, the UK Government urgently needs to put in place plans to empower and support our NHS staff to support the recovery of cancer services. . Without them, the threads of our life-saving healthcare services will continue to unravel as the NHS battles a harsh winter. People living with cancer have waited too long and need reassurance that they are getting the treatment they so desperately need.”
Source: I News
I’m Raymond Molina, a professional writer and journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. I currently work for 24 News Reporters, where I write for the health section of their news website. In my role, I am responsible for researching and writing stories on current health trends and issues. My articles are often seen as thought-provoking pieces that provide valuable insight into the state of society’s wellbeing.