'My cancer spread while I waited months for surgery': The cost of England's cancer wait times
Summary
Many cancer patients in England face long waits for surgery, causing their cancer to spread and treatment to become more difficult. The government set targets to start treatment quickly, but current data shows fewer patients are treated on time, raising concern about avoidable deaths.Key Facts
- Alan, a lung cancer patient, waited nearly five months for surgery instead of a few weeks, allowing his cancer to spread.
- England aims for 80% of cancer patients to begin treatment within 62 days by March 2027, rising to 85% later.
- Currently, only about 69.9% of patients start treatment within 62 days, down from 71.9%.
- Experts say government cancer treatment targets are now impossible to reach due to poor planning and no clear leadership.
- For every month a patient waits to start treatment, their chance of survival falls by roughly 10%.
- Over 3,000 extra patients each month would need timely treatment to meet targets, and this number may increase as more people get referred.
- Some hospitals like Salisbury have improved wait times for certain cancers by focusing on basics like appointment management and staff recruitment.
- Innovative surgeries, like one used for a facial cancer patient at Salisbury, can remove tumors effectively and reduce the need for multiple operations.
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