Over 2 million people in backlog for cancer care

Around 2.4 million people in the UK are waiting for cancer screening, further tests or cancer treatment according to a new analysis by Cancer Research UK, published today.*

COVID-19 has caused enormous disruption to cancer services across the UK, including delays to cancer treatment, screening and diagnosis, and huge decreases in patients being urgently referred to hospital with suspected cancer symptoms.**

Delays to cancer screening have had the biggest impact on the total number, with a backlog of around 2.1 million people left waiting for breast, bowel or cervical screening. During this time, 3,800 cancers would normally be diagnosed through screening.

Urgent cancer referrals, often known as the two week wait, have been severely impacted with up to 290,000 people missing out on further testing, which would normally catch up to 20,300 cancers in the same time period.

There will also be a backlog of treatment to catch up on, with up to 12,750 fewer patients receiving surgery, 6,000 fewer for chemotherapy and 2,800 fewer receiving radiotherapy since lockdown began.***

‘COVID-protected’ safe spaces will be a crucial part of addressing the growing backlog and ensuring more people can safely receive treatment or be diagnosed quickly.

But this will only be possible if all cancer patients and healthcare staff – whether symptomatic or asymptomatic – are tested regularly for COVID-19.

Cancer Research UK has estimated that to test patients ahead of hospital appointments and cancer staff weekly, between 21,000 and 37,000 COVID-19 tests must be done each day across the UK. This means that doctors and nurses can care for their patients in a safe, ‘COVID-protected’ environment.****

A clear national plan for testing is needed to support the effective recovery and restoration of cancer services.

Michelle Mitchell, Cancer Research UK’s chief executive, said: “The enormous strain COVID-19 has placed on cancer services is of great concern to us. The NHS has had to make very hard decisions to balance risk, and there have been some difficult discussions with patients about their safety and ability to continue treatment during this time. But we’re over the peak of the pandemic now, and cancer care is starting to get up and running again as ‘COVID-protected’ spaces are being set up.

“To get cancer services back to normal levels while ensuring no one is put at risk, frequent testing of NHS staff and patients, including those without symptoms, is vital. We now need clear national leadership and guidance for the NHS to dramatically increase testing levels. At the moment, we don’t know who is responsible for making cancer services safe and it’s patients who are suffering in the meantime. The Government must work closely with the NHS to ramp up testing provision with rapid results, as quickly as possible once practical.

“Prompt diagnosis and treatment remain crucial to give people with cancer the greatest chances of survival and prevent the pandemic taking even more lives.”

Professor Charles Swanton, Cancer Research UK’s chief clinician, said: “My colleagues and I have seen the devastating impact this pandemic has had on both patients and NHS staff. Delays to diagnosis and treatment could mean that some cancers will become inoperable. Patients shouldn’t need to wait for this to be over before getting the treatment they need.

“We can create a safer environment for both staff and cancer patients if testing efforts ramp up quickly with test results delivered back within 24 hours or less. We know that carrying COVID-19 while asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic is a major concern where healthcare worker staff and patients can transmit infection.

“We need at least weekly testing of healthcare workers and elective admissions to protect patients and staff from future spread and hospital-related complications. Staff in hospitals around the country are working extremely hard and with more testing of staff and patients – with and without symptoms – we will have hospitals and centres protected from COVID-19 where patients can be treated safely.”

Paul Soderquist, 66 from Enfield, London was diagnosed with both lung and prostate cancer in 2019. He had surgery for lung cancer in February but his radiotherapy for prostate cancer has been put on hold due to COVID-19.

Paul said: “I was in the unusual position of getting two diagnoses within a few weeks and I count my blessings that I had my lung surgery earlier this year. I’m still being treated for prostate cancer, but it’s non-aggressive and I’ve been assured I will recover. I was due to have radiotherapy, but it’s been postponed until September because of the virus, although I’m still having injections to inhibit testosterone.

“I understand the reasons for the delay, and I know I’m in a queue, but things feel uncertain. My CT scan for both cancers in May has been put on hold too. So, I hope that there aren’t any problems because of that delay.”