We must increase awareness of cancers with non-specific symptoms - charity
Diana Jupp, Acting Chief Executive of Bloodwise, comments on John Baron MP's article, detailing the points of his debate on NHS financing and cancer diagnosis.
We welcome today’s parliamentary debate on early cancer diagnosis and NHS finance. Collectively blood cancers are the fifth most common type of cancer, yet they are the third biggest cancer killer – claiming more lives each year in the UK than breast cancer or prostate cancer. Still the public and political awareness of blood cancers is low. This low awareness can also delay a diagnosis being made. Data from the National Cancer Patient Experience Survey shows that one in three blood cancer patients go to their GP more than twice before being referred to secondary care for diagnosis.
Be Clear on Cancer campaigns have been focused on solid tumours and raising awareness of specific symptoms. For blood cancer, this would not be possible, as symptoms can be non-specific and have similarities to other benign conditions. So rather than additional investment we need further thought and NHS working closer together with cancer charities and patient organisations on how to increase awareness of cancers with non-specific symptoms, such as blood cancers.
