If you are one of tens of thousands who recently took the time to sign this petition, thank you so much. You are joining a community of campaigners determined to make a difference in improving cancer survival rates through earlier diagnosis.
To the many of you who have commented as you signed and shared your own experiences of late diagnosis thank you for your bravery and for raising awareness. I have read all your comments. I am listening and I promise I will ensure the DHSC, NHS England and the RCGP listen too.
I am so sorry this petition does not allow me to reply to your posts. Please do follow Jess’ charity (Jessica Brady CEDAR Trust) on X (Twitter), Facebook and Instagram. I would encourage you to share photos and details of delayed diagnosis within Primary Care. The scale of the problem, is we believe, under reported and much greater than assumed. The charity is closely affiliated to this petition and the work of Jess’s Law. It is also raising money for GP training.
It is devastating to read accounts of your experiences of delayed diagnosis resulting in recent deaths. It seems little has changed since losing our beloved Jess nearly four years ago. Quite simply, government must support GP surgeries to do better.
Recently, Jessica Brady CEDAR Trust received a communication from a recently retired cancer surgeon who worked at Royal Marsden Hospital for 30 years. His observations backed the points of this petition, including the importance of continuity of care and issues relating to remote consultations. He eloquently cited many other, sadly unsurprising, points we have touched upon in previous updates.
Below are some extracts from his letter.
“The UK has the worst cancer survival in the G7 group of countries and also among western European countries, despite our excellence in research and development of cancer treatments. Cancer Research UK(CRUK) have suggested that at least 20,000 cancer deaths annually are avoidable.”
“It is an indisputable fact that the best way to reduce deaths from cancer is early diagnosis. Even the best radiotherapy and chemotherapy cannot regain the survival advantage lost from late diagnosis, more advanced disease and the inevitable deterioration in prognosis. Early diagnosis of cancer by identifying red-flag symptoms is one of the important responsibilities of GPs.”
“In a recent world ranking of 5-year cancer survival, the UK was 28th for stomach and lung cancer, 26th for pancreas and brain cancers and 21st and 16th for liver and oesophageal cancers respectively.”
“The Stage of cancer at diagnosis is the most important prognostic factor for survival. For example, the 5-year survival for Stage 1 bowel cancer is 93% and for Stage 4 is 13%.”
“To date, all discussion about the late diagnosis of cancer have focused on the 62-day cancer referral pathway meaning from the date a patient is referred on suspicion of cancer to the date of starting treatment. These delays are due to inadequate diagnostic and treatment facilities with the NHS and need correction. Such delays are distressing for patients but it is unlikely that a delay in starting treatment of a few weeks will adversely affect the prognosis.”
“However there has been complete reluctance to discuss delays in diagnosis of cancer ahead of the 62-day pathway meaning compliance with cancer screening and especially missed and delayed diagnosis in general practice.”
Sobering comments.
I believe the Mail on Sunday may be referencing Jess’s Law in another feature about late cancer diagnosis in young people this Sunday. Let’s hope so. Awareness is key.
Thank you so much for continuing to share and encouraging people to sign. You are making a difference. None of this is possible without your support.