Up to 50,000 people in the UK could have undiagnosed cancer - signs to watch out for and how to get help

Macmillan Cancer Support has said up to 50,000 people have cancers which remain undiagnosed due to disruption caused by Covid-19.

A further 33,000 have had delayed starts to treatment because of the pandemic, the charity says.

In a best case scenario, the backlog of patients could take up to 18 months to clear.

The number awaiting diagnosis could double within a year

Macmillan has warned that the number of people awaiting a cancer diagnosis could double within a year if hospitals become overwhelmed by Covid patients this winter.

The concerns about the backlog in cancer care were raised in a new report titled ‘The Forgotten C? The impact of Covid-19 on cancer care.’

Cancer must not become the 'forgotten 'C" during the coronavirus pandemic. Coronavirus has caused huge disruption to cancer care across the UK, with many seeing their treatment plans delayed, cancelled or changed, causing serious anxiety. pic.twitter.com/xQMCXu3Cs6

— Macmillan Cancer Support (@macmillancancer) May 28, 2020

The backlog was caused by a combination of factors, including disruptions to vital appointments, surgeries and treatments in the first wave of the pandemic, and thousands of people not being able to visit their GP.

The charity’s chief executive, Lynda Thomas, has warned that cancer care in the UK is at a crossroads, and cannot afford to be shut down this winter.

She said, “Because of the pandemic, we estimate that an additional 50,000 people are missing a cancer diagnosis and others are having their appointments disrupted once again.

“It is simply unacceptable that they face unbearable and unprecedented delays which could affect their chances of survival.