Prior to losing Jess, I knew very little about cancer and any related services. I certainly knew even less about Select Committees and how they work. Giving evidence for the Health and Social Care Committee’s review into cancer services has inevitably offered me a greater insight into how a group of cross-party MPs are used to report their findings to the government. This report on cancer services, informed by many expert witnesses, is quite sobering. It offers some stark warnings and strong recommendations. It backs many of the points laid out in this petition. The 52 pages summarising the Select Committee’s meetings are highly detailed. Below are some of the points that struck me. These comments have been plucked directly from the report. They have been quoted in context, but I have tried to keep them brief. The salient points are not my conclusions or findings but the opinions of qualified individuals working in cancer services.
We should not underestimate the importance of a report like this.
· The single most effective way to improve overall survival rates would be to diagnose more cancers earlier. Diagnosing bowel cancer at stage 1 means that 90% of people will live for five years compared to just 10% of people diagnosed at stage 4. CRUK stated that “the importance of reducing the incidence of advanced cancer and meaningfully improving early diagnosis cannot be overstated”.
Throughout the inquiry the committee heard about the importance of GPs to the early diagnosis of cancer and the importance of face-to-face GP appointments was acknowledged. Calls for the NHS to increase awareness among GPs were made.
· Low rates of referrals by GPs in England compared to their international counterparts is a pre-existing issue and is seen as a potential key driver of late diagnosis. ·
The Government’s investment in Rapid Diagnostic Centres is described as “well underway,” however the roll-out is also said to be “patchy and slow” due to challenges presented by the availability of scanners and other equipment.
· We are at the bottom of the league table of developed countries when it comes to the number of scanners we have. Also, importantly, you cannot have a scanner unless you have someone to operate that scanner and interpret the results.
· The Government has set an important target to diagnose 75% of cancers at the earliest stages 1 or 2 by 2028, compared to 54% today. Following the current static trajectory, this target is sceptically received by many and deemed “extremely unlikely,”
· If you are in the centres of excellence or you are being seen at the Marsden or the Christie, that is great, but it has to be fair and equitable.
· As well as cancer outcomes differing by region, we heard that some cancers have worse outcomes than others, and have not seen the same progress in increasing survival. The Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce also highlighted that survival from these cancers is significantly lower in the UK than in other countries:
One argument presented to us explaining Jess’ late diagnosis was the ‘rareness’ of her cancer. The reports show that the word “rare” is used across the board to describe all cancers outside the four more common ones. Something like 47% of all cancer diagnoses are for rare and less common cancers, but they account for 55% of all cancer deaths.
· The GRAIL blood test for cancer, checking for DNA in the blood for signs of cancer and is described as a “key innovation”,
· We have not yet recovered to the place where we were before the pandemic.
These findings, although stark, are not entirely unexpected.
The aim of this petition is to raise awareness and push for positive change in memory of Jess and of so many other precious individuals. Jess’ campaign is not intended as a criticism of GPs. We recognise the need for huge investment and support for all our cancer services.
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