Cancer Patients Are “Worried About When Treatment Will Restart”

According to a new poll, some cancer patients are in the dark about when treatment will be resumed and fear their illness may be exacerbated.

A study of 1,900 patients in Cancer Research UK in May found that one in three had treatment discontinued due to the effects of Covid-19 on the NHS.

According to charities, this represents hundreds of thousands of people experiencing cancellations, delays and treatment changes throughout the UK.

Approximately 42% of the patients surveyed were affected by this test, including tests to find out if the cancer had spread or had recurred.

He also noted that about 70% of people who experienced delays or discontinuation of cancer screening and treatment felt irritated or anxious.

Since the start of the lockdown, Cancer Research UK estimates that about 38,000 fewer treatments have been given compared to a similar period before the pandemic.

One of the women with early-stage breast cancer who responded to polls said her annual mammogram was postponed indefinitely.

She said: “If I recur, I’m worried that it will be more advanced than it was before Covid. And I’m afraid I can’t get treatment.”

I’m very scared. I don’t want to die during this Covid outbreak without seeing my loved one

A 73-year-old respondent living with stage IV lung and breast cancer said:

“I’m so scared. I don’t want to die during this Covid outbreak without seeing my loved one.”

Almost half of all cancer patients surveyed are worried about catching Covid-19, and a similar percentage of people are ill with Covid-19.

Nearly two-thirds (64%) say that the NHS’s ability to support emotional well-being or mental health was affected.

A 33-year-old man with stage IV lung and gastrointestinal cancer said:

“I’m upset to deal with this because I don’t have easy access to emotional support services.”

It was a stressful and lonely time for many patients, and worried about coming to the hospital for fear of being infected by the virus or being delayed or modified treatment

Michelle Mitchell, Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK, said: “Covid-19 definitely put a lot of strain on people affected by cancer and had an extraordinary impact on their care and health. I’ve heard many of these stories over the past few months.

“But there is some good news. Since the peak of the pandemic, the NHS has begun to restore cancer services and more people are being referred to hospitals for testing.

“But there is still a long way to go to clear the increasing backlog of patients awaiting testing and treatment.

“We want to make sure that patients have access to the best care possible, but we need public support to continue to fund life-saving research. We overcome cancer. Mission has never been more urgent.”

Charles Swanton, a chief clinician at Cancer Research UK, said: “During the pandemic, Covid-19 had a huge impact on cancer patients.

“I had some difficult conversations with patients throughout the pandemic to explain their adjustments to the treatment plan.

“It was a stressful and lonely time for many patients, and I was worried about coming to the hospital for fear of getting a virus, delaying or changing treatment.

“Before the Covid-19 revives in the winter, the government needs to ensure access to Covid-19-protected hospital facilities across the country so that patients can be treated with little risk of viral infection. There is.”

An NHS spokeswoman said: The NHS is taking urgent action to increase the number of tests and treatments performed so that more people can see it quickly and safely.

“The point is that anyone with a potential symptom should go to their family doctor’s diagnosis as usual.”