About 10,000 fewer breast cancer patients started treatment in England over the past year, according to Cancer Research UK.
The charity said around 38,000 fewer people started treatment for all cancers in England in the past year and that number included around 10,600 fewer breast cancer patients.
Breast cancer screening was temporarily suspended at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and that could be one of the reasons for the declining enrollment.
In addition, it is believed that many people have postponed their requests for medical treatment, either because of difficulties seeing their GP or because of fear that hospitalization would put them at risk of catching COVID-19. .
Breast cancer deaths hit an all-time high during the pandemic, but Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said that progress could slow.
She said: “These numbers are worrying and we may see progress slow over the next few years as the true effect of the pandemic is revealed.
“The NHS is showing signs of recovery, but a huge effort is still needed to clear the cancer backlog as quickly as possible to help avoid preventable cancer deaths in the wake of the pandemic.
“The government must ensure that there is sufficient funding for the staff, diagnostic equipment and research needed to improve cancer care across the UK in the long term, so that cancer patients have the best chance of surviving their disease. “
Cancer Research UK chief clinician Professor Charles Swanton said: “Given the huge disruption in cancer services, these figures are unfortunately not surprising. And we are seeing the impact of an effective interruption of breast cancer screening that detects nearly a third of breast cancer cases.
“But it’s important to remember that cancer screening is for people without symptoms, so it’s essential that if people notice anything unusual for them, don’t wait for screening – contact your GP.
“In most cases, it won’t be cancer, but if it does, catching it early gives the …
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Source: news.sky.com
This notice was published: 2021-06-15 03:53:00
