Over half a million individuals in England have experienced delays exceeding two months for essential cancer treatments, according to recent NHS data analyzed by Radiotherapy UK.
This situation raises concerns that delays could lead to thousands of unnecessary deaths unless promptly addressed.
From 2014 to November 2024, 506,335 cancer patients faced treatment waits longer than 62 days.
Notably, the NHS has consistently missed its target of initiating treatment within this timeframe for 85% of patients since December 2015, with only 69% currently meeting the standard.
The analysis reveals significant disparities in treatment wait times. From November 2022 to 2024, over a third of cancer patients waited more than two months to start treatment.
Particularly affected were patients with gynaecological, lower gastrointestinal, lung, and urological cancers, with nearly half not treated within the 62-day benchmark.
Conversely, over 80% of skin cancer patients since February 2024 have started treatment within the two-month period, attributed to the less complex nature of treating this type of cancer.
Amid these concerning statistics, the Department of Health and Social Care is set to unveil a revamped government cancer strategy on World Cancer Day.
However, there is skepticism about the effectiveness of this plan, especially after NHS England eliminated the target for diagnosing 75% of cancers at an early stage.
Leading oncologist Prof Pat Price criticizes the past decade’s approach to cancer management, stressing the need for a decisive and robust plan to prevent further loss of life. Similarly, Prof Mark Lawler expresses frustration over the lack of ambition in tackling treatment delays that endanger patient lives.
Paula Chadwick of the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation highlights the critical nature of timely treatment for aggressive cancers like lung cancer, underscoring the real-life impact of these delays.
Michelle Mitchell from Cancer Research UK calls for renewed governmental efforts to diagnose cancers earlier and provide optimal treatments to improve survival rates and quality of life.
Meanwhile, Melanie Sturtevant from Breast Cancer Now points out the dire consequences of not meeting breast cancer targets, leading to prolonged suffering for many.
In response, a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson asserts that forthcoming reforms will transform cancer care, aiming to diagnose and initiate treatment for significantly more patients promptly.
An NHS spokesperson reaffirms the commitment to improving both the timeliness of cancer treatments and patient experiences, highlighting the increase in early-stage cancer diagnoses and survival rates due to NHS efforts.
