Help Us Help You – Clear on Cancer Just Campaign

Posted on October 21st, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented the NHS with one of its greatest ever challenges. One serious impact is that some members of the public are reluctant to use NHS services, citing concerns about being exposed to the virus and not wanting to be a burden on the NHS.

Cancer

• While the number of urgent cancer referrals is back up to 85% of pre-COVID levels, there are some people who may have worrying symptoms who are still not contacting their GP.

• From the start of the pandemic to the end of August, more than 870,000 people were urgently referred and over 90% of them were subsequently seen by a specialist within two weeks. Cancer treatment levels were maintained at 85% of 2019 levels during the height of the pandemic– showing that the NHS is there for people when they need it.

• If you’ve had unexplained blood that doesn’t come from an obvious injury (such as blood in your poo or pee), an unexplained lump, weight loss which feels significant to you or an unexplained pain that lasts three weeks or more, it could be a sign of cancer.

• It’s probably nothing serious, but finding cancer early makes it more treatable, so just speak to your GP or use our econsult platform.

Web links

For cancer

Visit NHS Cancer Symptoms for more information