This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/health/8385793.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Late diagnosis 'kills 10,000' Late diagnosis 'kills 10,000'
(about 1 hour later)
Failure to pick up cancer at an early stage costs the lives of up to 10,000 a year in England, the government's cancer tsar is reported to have said. Failure to pick up cancer at an early stage costs the lives of up to 10,000 a year in England, the government's cancer tsar says.
The Guardian quotes National Cancer Director Professor Mike Richards as saying the situation is "unacceptable". National Cancer Director Professor Mike Richards described the situation as "unacceptable".
Currently, 90% of patients are diagnosed by symptoms, rather than through screening.Currently, 90% of patients are diagnosed by symptoms, rather than through screening.
Professor Richards' comments will feature in a forthcoming article in the British Journal of Cancer.Professor Richards' comments will feature in a forthcoming article in the British Journal of Cancer.
In an excerpt published in the Guardian, Professor Richards said: "These delays in the patient presenting with symptoms and cancer being diagnosed at a late stage inevitably costs lives. In the piece, Professor Richards says: "These delays in the patient presenting with symptoms and cancer being diagnosed at a late stage inevitably costs lives.
"The situation is unacceptable so the first big step has been to understand why the delays occur.""The situation is unacceptable so the first big step has been to understand why the delays occur."
'Time-waster' worry'Time-waster' worry
Professor Richards said that if diagnosis in England was as good as in the best-performing European countries many lives could be saved.Professor Richards said that if diagnosis in England was as good as in the best-performing European countries many lives could be saved.
He cited a new study which found about half the deaths that could be prevented were due to Britain's three biggest cancer killers - tumours of the lung, colon and breast.He cited a new study which found about half the deaths that could be prevented were due to Britain's three biggest cancer killers - tumours of the lung, colon and breast.
Professor Richards said part of the problem was that British people were worried about wasting doctors' time, and so often did not present until their symptoms were relatively advanced.Professor Richards said part of the problem was that British people were worried about wasting doctors' time, and so often did not present until their symptoms were relatively advanced.
A recent survey by the charity Cancer Research UK found 40% of people would delay visiting a GP for fear of being labelled a time-waster.A recent survey by the charity Cancer Research UK found 40% of people would delay visiting a GP for fear of being labelled a time-waster.
Professor Richards said research was now under way to examine how best to tackle this issue.Professor Richards said research was now under way to examine how best to tackle this issue.
His staff are working with GPs to carry out a national audit revealing the extent of delays and where they exist.His staff are working with GPs to carry out a national audit revealing the extent of delays and where they exist.
The National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative (NAEDI) has also been set up to improve screening services.The National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative (NAEDI) has also been set up to improve screening services.
GPs 'more alert'GPs 'more alert'
Professor Steve Field, chairman of the Royal College of GPs, said GPs should reflect on whether there were things they could do to make sure cancer symptoms were picked up earlier.Professor Steve Field, chairman of the Royal College of GPs, said GPs should reflect on whether there were things they could do to make sure cancer symptoms were picked up earlier.
He said: "It's wrong to blame GPs for all these deaths, as there are many factors involved, including patients not recognising symptoms of cancer and not talking to their GP about them, especially middle-aged men.He said: "It's wrong to blame GPs for all these deaths, as there are many factors involved, including patients not recognising symptoms of cancer and not talking to their GP about them, especially middle-aged men.
"But I'm sure that we could all at times be more alert to symptoms and investigate and refer patients quicker.""But I'm sure that we could all at times be more alert to symptoms and investigate and refer patients quicker."
Katherine Murphy, director of the Patients' Association, said: "Some patients are diagnosed with cancer when they have presented with the same symptoms six months earlier.Katherine Murphy, director of the Patients' Association, said: "Some patients are diagnosed with cancer when they have presented with the same symptoms six months earlier.
"Patients will sometimes tell us that they had been going to see their GP for six to nine months with, say, a pain in their stomach and were told to go to the pharmacy and buy an over-the-counter medicine (and later are found to have cancer).""Patients will sometimes tell us that they had been going to see their GP for six to nine months with, say, a pain in their stomach and were told to go to the pharmacy and buy an over-the-counter medicine (and later are found to have cancer)."