Patients' cancer worsens due to 'entirely avoidable delays'

TENS of thousands of cancer patients have seen the disease worsen because of "unacceptable and entirely avoidable" delays, analysis has revealed

- Giles Sheldrick

Macmillan Cancer Support says 180,000 more waited too long for tests and treatment over the past decade as targets were missed repeatedly.

Gemma Peters, the charity's chief executive, said: "The figures we are talking about only illustrate what Macmillan, NHS staff, people with cancer and many other organisations have been sounding the alarm on since long before the pandemic.

"Cancer care is in crisis after years of Governments failing to act. Every single person who has faced a worse outcome from their diagnosis because of delays will know the devastating impact waiting has had on their lives."

She said this could include "the burden of anxiety that their cancer is growing, and, for many, the devastating news their cancer is now incurable." She stressed: "This is categorically unacceptable and entirely avoidable." The damning indictment comes three years after the Daily Express exposed a diagnosis and treatment crisis magnified by the pandemic.