Delayed diagnosis of cancer ‘kills 10,000 annually’

Around 10,000 patients die unnecessarily every year due to the late diagnosis of cancer.

This is according to a study that is due to be revealed this week by professor Mike Richards, who told the Guardian that the number of preventable deaths occurring each year in the UK is between 5,000 and 10,000.

His study compares one-year survival rates in England and other European countries for the three most deadly forms of cancer ? bowel, lung and breast.

“Efforts now need to be directed at promoting early diagnosis for the very large number of patients – over 90 per cent – who are diagnosed as a result of their symptoms rather than by screening,” commented Mr Richards.

He added that initiatives are now in the pipeline that aim to further educate the public about identifying the signs of cancer and tackle their reluctance to seek advice from their GPs.

This news follows the National Patient Safety Agency’s announcement that it has issued guidance to the NHS about when it is appropriate to apologise to patients in the event of an error.