Ovarian cancer crisis – 4 in 10 diagnosed after A@E dash | UK | News
7 out of 10 people are diagnosed late (Image: Getty)
Four in ten women with ovarian cancer are only diagnosed after an emergency visit to A&E, with survival rates lagging behind the rest of Europe and many cases caught too late to be saved, a damning report reveals.
The research found that more than 70 per cent of women are not diagnosed until the disease reaches an advanced stage, significantly reducing their chances of survival and raising new fears about delays in NHS cancer care.
The hard-hitting report says there are huge differences in treatment and survival rates depending on where patients live, and urgent action is needed to stop women escaping the net.
The findings come from a new analysis by policy research center Future Health, which examines the quality of ovarian cancer care across England, based on official data from the National Ovarian Cancer Audit.
It shows that around 5,700 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year, but the majority are diagnosed only after the disease has spread.
More than 4 in 10 women were admitted to hospital as an emergency in the month before diagnosis
More than 7 in 10 people are diagnosed at stage 3 or 4
30 percent die within a year of diagnosis
More than one in four women with advanced cancer receive no treatment
There are huge differences between NHS Trusts in survival, treatment and diagnosis rates
More than a quarter of women with stage 2 to 4 ovarian cancer did not receive surgery or chemotherapy within nine months of diagnosis; Access to recommended platinum-based chemotherapy, however, has varied greatly.
Researchers have warned that the figures reveal a “postcode lottery” in care, with some hospitals performing much better than others.
In some parts of the country, the rate of women diagnosed after visiting the emergency room was more than 20 percentage points higher than elsewhere. There was also an almost 19 point difference in one year survival rates between NHS Trusts.
The report comes just weeks after the Government published its new National Cancer Plan for England, which aims to ensure 75 per cent of cancer patients survive five years or more.
“Women are slipping through the net” (Image: Getty)
But unless prioritized, ovarian cancer risks being left behind, researchers say.
Richard Sloggett, Program Director at Future Health, author of the report, said: “The Government has set welcome targets to improve five-year cancer survival rates through the National Cancer Plan. The picture painted by this research makes a strong case that ovarian cancer needs to be prioritized for action as the Plan is now rolled out across the NHS. Improvements in ovarian cancer diagnosis and survival should be a litmus test to determine whether the Plan will work for patients.”
Campaigners say ovarian cancer is particularly dangerous because the symptoms are vague and easy to miss. Bloating, stomach pain, feeling full quickly, and needing to urinate more often can be warning signs, but many women don’t realize these may be linked to cancer.
The study was commissioned by AbbVie and patient charities such as Ovacome and Target Ovarian Cancer were consulted during the research.
Ovarian cancer may begin with ‘vague symptoms’ (Image: Getty)
An NHS spokesman said: “The NHS is seeing and treating record numbers of people for cancer and rates of early detection have never been higher, with this report showing a reduction in emergency admissions before ovarian cancer is diagnosed – but we know there is more to be done.
“That’s why we established the National Ovarian Cancer Audit (on which this analysis is based) to help identify and address unwarranted differences in ovarian cancer treatment, and our new National Cancer Plan will transform services to ensure everyone has access to the best care wherever they live.”
