People with potential symptoms of cancer are not going to their GP's
Nearly half of people who had possible cancer symptoms between March and August last year did not contact their doctors
Last updated 25th Feb 2021
A new study has found that a number of people with potential symptoms of cancer did not seek medical help during the first six months of the pandemic.
It found that nearly half of people who had possible cancer symptoms between March and August last year did not contact their GP.
Experts are now reminding the public that NHS services are open safely, even during lockdown.
A policy paper from the university and Cancer Research UK highlights how there were 19% fewer urgent cancer referrals - around 350,000 - between March and November in 2020 compared with the previous year.
"I feel unlucky, but I also feel very very lucky."
Helen Stewart from Leeds was diagnosed with breast cancer in August 2020, she said:
"I feel unlucky, but I also feel very very lucky, because if I didn't go to the doctors and they didn't refer me to the hospital, it was undetectable, who knows where I would've been, I might have ben sat here telling a completely different story to my children.
"I know it's hard at the moment to get into the doctors and operations are getting cancelled, but I feel I've been treated how I would've been if there wasn't a pandemic going on."
She's encouraging other people to go to the doctors if they have any concerns, she said:
"Hopefully the doctor will get you referred, and if you aren't happy with that get a second opinion.
"I had undetectable cancer, where would I have been if I hadn't found that? I'm 44 years old and I'd have been 50 before I went for a mammogram."
Michelle Mitchell, Cancer Research UK's chief executive said:
"Catching cancer at an early stage gives the best possible chance of surviving the disease so we're extremely concerned people have put off seeking help for cancer symptoms, even if this was for the best of intentions.
"Worryingly we don't yet know what the pandemic's long-term impact on cancer stage and survival will be, so it's vital people don't delay contacting their GP if they notice any unusual changes to their body.
"NHS staff have worked incredibly hard to manage the increased strain Covid-19 has put on an already stretched system but the government must protect cancer services if we're to avoid the real possibility that cancer survival could go backwards for the first time in decades.''