Delay in diagnosis of bowel cancer

A man holds his stomach while talking to a doctor
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Thanks to advocates such as Dame Deborah James, also known on social media platforms as BowelBabe, information and discussions on bowel cancer have been in the news and on social media for a while.

Bowel cancer (also called colorectal cancer) is cancer found in the large bowel and it is one of the most common types of cancer in the UK. Bowel screening can identify bowel cancer at an early stage, increasing the likelihood of successful treatment and better patient outcomes.

According to Cancer Research UK, when bowel cancer is found early (stages 1 or 2) most patients are likely to survive for 5 years or more. Figures tend to be quite different when a diagnosis has been delayed and cancers have had more time to grow and possibly spread to other parts of the body. The main treatments for bowel cancer are surgery and chemotherapy.

Knowing these statistics and the importance of early treatment it was frustrating to hear from Bowel Cancer UK that bowel cancer patients in Wales are waiting too long to start treatment.

The Chief Executive of Bowel Cancer UK said :

These findings from Audit Wales are concerning. Early diagnosis is strongly linked with survival of bowel cancer, so it’s important patients with suspected bowel cancer can be seen quickly.

 “The work done by the NHS to lower the bowel cancer screening age to 50 in Wales could be hugely beneficial and will help pick up more bowel cancers earlier. But right now, less than a quarter of people referred for colonoscopy, after a positive screening test, are being seen within national waiting times targets.

 “With less than half of all bowel cancer patients starting treatment within the 62 day target, more must be done to improve the waiting times for key tests and treatment for bowel cancer.”

Despite these news, knowing the symptoms of bowel cancer is key to obtaining an early diagnosis and treatment. If you have any of the symptoms detailed on the NHS website please contact your GP.

There is also an NHS early screening programme for those 54 to 74, so if your GP offers you an at home FIT (Faecal Immunochemical Test) or a colonoscopy (a camera that looks at the whole of the inside of the large bowel) as part of NHS screening I would advise accepting and getting tested.

How can we help you?

Delays in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer can have a devastating effect on the patient and their family. To bring a claim you need to be able to prove that there has been a breach in the duty of care owed to you by the medical professionals responsible for your care, and that this breach caused a negative impact on your treatment and prognosis.

At Enable Law we have assisted many clients that have suffered delays in diagnosis and treatment of bowel cancer.  If you would like more information, please contact our friendly team for free by calling us on 0800 044 8488 or fill in our contact form so a member of our specialist team can give you a call back at a time convenient for you.

We are proud sponsors of the Bowel Cancer UK Ask the Nurse service that enables anyone with questions about bowel cancer to direct them to specialist colorectal nurses. To find out more about the amazing work of the charity and seek their advice visit their page here.

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