Time of the essence in Wales cancer crisis

A NEW series of audits reveals that cancer diagnosis in Wales is happening at a later stage or when patient symptoms have become so severe that they result in hospital admissions.

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The audits were published by the National Cancer Audit Collaborating Centre (Natcan).

A range of cancers were looked at and in some areas it is clear a tighter approach to early detection and diagnosis is needed. Approximately four in 10 women (41%) in England and Wales were only diagnosed with ovarian cancer after their symptoms were so severe that they sought emergency care in hospital.

The national ovarian cancer audit also highlighted that significant numbers of women with the disease are only diagnosed once their disease had spread to another part of the body - making it harder to treat.