A new analysis by Cancer Research UK, carried out exclusively for BBC, has exposed stark disparities in how quickly patients with different cancers in England receive treatment.
The research reveals that individuals with head, neck, and bowel cancers are facing the longest delays, with just over half starting treatment within the target window of 62 days.
In contrast, those with blood, bone marrow, and skin cancers are more likely to receive care within the recommended timeframe.
Cancer Research UK has raised concerns that these delays could be costing lives, pointing to research that shows a four-week delay in surgery can raise the risk of death by 6-8% for many cancers.
The charity highlighted that the variation in waiting times is driven by several factors, including acute shortages of specialized staff, the complexity of diagnosing some cancers, and a higher volume of referrals for certain types, such as bowel cancer, which has seen a surge in diagnoses following increased public awareness after the death of campaigner Dame Deborah James, known as “Bowelbabe.”
The personal toll of these delays is illustrated by the case of Jayne Gray, who died in 2021 at the age of 64 from complications related to bladder cancer.
Despite her previous cancer history, Jayne waited 74 days to begin treatment following an urgent referral from her GP.
Her daughter, Amy Gray, expressed frustration over the delay, saying, “It was torture waiting for her treatment to start.
We will always wonder if things would have turned out differently if she had been treated sooner.”
Bladder cancer, a form of urological cancer, is among those with some of the longest waits for treatment, according to the analysis.
Cancer Research UK’s director of evidence and implementation, Naser Turabi, called these long waits “unacceptable” and emphasized the need for timely treatment, regardless of cancer type.
Turabi added that the government has a “huge opportunity” to address these issues and ensure targets are met by the end of the current parliament.
However, he cautioned that systemic changes and long-term planning, including a 10-year strategy for recruiting additional staff and improving diagnostic capacity, will be essential to reducing delays and saving lives.
The current NHS target of starting treatment within 62 days has not been met in England since 2015, and even longer in other parts of the UK, since 2012 in Scotland, 2010 in Wales, and 2009 in Northern Ireland.
Cancer Research UK’s projections indicate that unless performance improves, more than 300,000 cancer patients in England will miss the 62-day target over the next five years.
The organization also predicts a 20% increase in referrals, putting even more pressure on the healthcare system.
These findings arrive on the heels of a critical report by NHS surgeon and independent peer Lord Darzi, which condemned the current state of cancer care in the UK.
His investigation found that cancer outcomes for NHS patients were significantly worse compared to other countries, a reality that a Department of Health and Social Care official described as “completely unacceptable.”
The official confirmed that the government plans to introduce a 10-year plan in the spring aimed at reforming the NHS, with a focus on improving cancer care through prevention, early diagnosis, treatment, and research.
NHS England has acknowledged the issue of “unacceptably long waits” for some patients but noted that improvements are being made, with the number of people starting treatment within 62 days beginning to rise.
The health service also highlighted that it is conducting more cancer screenings and diagnostic tests than ever before, which could lead to further progress in reducing treatment delays.
However, with ongoing staff shortages and rising demand, tackling the issue will require sustained and coordinated efforts across the healthcare system.
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