Early Diagnosis Matters: Delays Cost Lives
Pancreatic Cancer Action issues stark warning as the UK avoids seeking medical help.
The Coronavirus Pandemic is having a huge impact on the way that people are using the NHS, with cancer referrals, GP
and A&E visits down significantly versus last year. With pressure on NHS resources set to continue in the months ahead, Pancreatic Cancer Action has issued a stark warning to anyone experiencing symptoms not to postpone seeking help.
Data from public health England suggests that two-week wait cancer referrals from GPs to hospitals have fallen by up 80% in some areas, while the latest figures from NHS England show that A&E visits have halved. The two-week wait is now improving but this is still very concerning. With almost half of all pancreatic cancer cases diagnosed as an emergency in A&E, the combination of reduced referrals and reduced A&E visits spells a worrying picture for anyone who might be suffering from undiagnosed symptoms.
Ali Stunt, CEO and founder of Pancreatic Cancer Action, explains, “For Pancreatic Cancer, in particular, early diagnosis is absolutely critical. That’s why we’re particularly concerned by these figures. If referrals drop, we’d expect to see a rise in diagnosis at A&E. With A&E visits also down, my worry is that, for many, it will be too late for successful intervention and treatment. If there is a substantial delay in diagnosing this type of cancer, the chances of survival fall drastically. ”
As a survivor of the disease herself, Ali knows first-hand the stark realities. Initially dismissed as gallstones, scans revealed that Ali’s symptoms were due to a 5.5cm tumour in her pancreas. Had she hesitated, or encountered any delays in her diagnosis and subsequent treatment, the cancer would have been inoperable. Instead, Ali underwent treatment and went on to set up Pancreatic Cancer Action, a UK charity which focusses on improving survival rates for pancreatic cancer by ensuring more people are diagnosed early and in time for surgery.
Ali continues, “While the usual routes to diagnosis and treatment will inevitably be skewed by the current pandemic, measures such as new moving treatments to COVID free wards are being put in place to ensure that treatment can continue. NHS leaders have made it clear that urgent cancer diagnosis and treatment should go ahead. We are urging people not to avoid visiting their doctors. All the data we have shows that early diagnosis is key to surviving pancreatic cancer and that awareness of the signs and symptoms is the key to early detection, making it absolutely vital that people approach their GP if they have symptoms.”
Pancreatic cancer has the lowest 5-year survival rate of all the 22 most common cancers – a fact which is largely due to late diagnosis. Although many GP practices have had to change the way that they run appointments, the charity has highlighted how urgent it is that people protect their health, and their lives, by not ignoring other health issues during the pandemic.
What are the symptoms of pancreatic cancer?
- Jaundice/yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, and/or very itchy skin.
- Upper abdominal pain or discomfort, which may radiate to the back.
- Mid back pain or discomfort where a bra strap would sit (may be eased by leaning forward).
- Pale and smelly stools that don’t flush easily and/or a change in bowel habits
- Loss of appetite.
- Indigestion which doesn’t respond to medication.
- Nausea and vomiting
- New onset diabetes which is not associated with weight gain
- Fatigue.
- Unexplained weight loss.
If you have symptoms, want to learn more or are looking for advice and support, visit pancreaticcanceraction.org
If you would like to help Pancreatic Cancer Action by taking part in a challenge, then you could sign up to their virtual Striding for Survival event. Walk, jog or run a distance of your choice in a location of your choice on Saturday 6th June to help everyone affected by pancreatic cancer. Sign up today here
About Pancreatic Cancer Action (PCA)
Founded by Ali Stunt in 2010 after her own experience of being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer aged 41, Pancreatic Cancer Action is the only UK charity that specifically focusses on improving pancreatic cancer survival rates through early diagnosis.
Our mission is to improve survival by ensuring more people are diagnosed early and in time for surgery – currently the only potential cure – and improve the quality of life of patients.
We do this by:
- Raising public awareness and knowledge of the pancreatic cancer and its symptoms.
- Providing education, awareness and training for the medical and healthcare communities.
- Campaigning and lobby the government and key stakeholders for change.
- Funding research into early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.
- Providing free patient information for those diagnosed and living with pancreatic cancer.
Further information about pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer is the 5th biggest cause of cancer death in the UK, however, it is set to become the 4th, overtaking breast cancer by 2026 as other cancers’ survival rates continue to improve. The survival statistics for pancreatic cancer have not changed markedly in nearly 50 years. 10,000 people are diagnosed in the UK each year with one person dying each hour from the disease.
- Every day, 24 people will die of pancreatic cancer – that’s more than the number who will die in road traffic accidents.
- Less than 7% of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer will survive for more than five years – this is because the cancer is very advanced when diagnosed.
- If patients are able to have surgery and diagnosed early, 5-year survival increases to 30%
- There is no early detection test for pancreatic cancer.
- The UK has one of the lowest survival rates for pancreatic cancer in the world.
- Just under half of patients are diagnosed after admission to A & E.
- Almost half of the UK do not know what the pancreas looks like (July 2019, survey based on 2,000 participants)
Pancreatic cancer symptoms include
- Unexplained and significant weight loss
- Abdominal pain or discomfort that can come and go, which tends to get worse when eating
- Indigestion that’s not responding to prescribed medication
- Yellowing of the skin and/or eyes, dark urine or very itchy skin (jaundice)
- Fatty and pale stools that are smelly and hard to flush
- Mid-back pain or discomfort
You can download our Press Kit here
Please e-mail healthinfo@panact.org for references.
