New report paints stark picture for early diagnosis of bowel cancer

A report from the Nuffield Trust paints a stark picture of progress towards improving early diagnosis of cancer, including bowel cancer. 

The data, from QualityWatch, a joint programme from the Nuffield Trust and the Health Foundation, unfortunately puts a future where we achieve NHS England’s ambition of diagnosing three quarters of all cancers at an earlier stage by 2028 further out of reach.  

In particular, the report highlights: 

• The number of visits made to a GP’s surgery needed ahead of a cancer diagnosis varies depending on a person’s age, ethnicity and socioeconomic status. This includes half of all 16–24-year old’s requiring three or more interactions with a healthcare professional from a GP practise before being diagnosed, and for 20 per cent of this group, five or more interactions were required.  

• One in three people of Mixed, Black or Asian ethnicity require three or more interactions with a GP before being diagnosed and that deprivation influences the likelihood of receiving an urgent referral from the GP. People from the most deprived populations in England are 21 per cent less likely to be referred for urgent suspected cancer than those from areas with low levels of deprivation.  

Concerns about the quality of communication received following a cancer diagnosis is also highlighted by the report.  

Genevieve Edwards, Chief Executive at Bowel Cancer UK, says:

This report paints a stark picture of the barriers to progress towards improving early diagnosis for cancer. It’s an important reminder of the inequalities experienced by patients, and unfortunately puts a future where NHS England’s ambition that by 2028, three quarters of the proportion of cancers will be diagnosed at stages 1 and 2, further out of reach.     

We know from our own Never Too Young report that younger people often need to visit their GP several times before being referred for further tests and diagnosed with bowel cancer.  

The earlier bowel cancer is spotted, the more treatable it’s likely to be so we desperately need to increase awareness of symptoms, make it easier for people to be diagnosed quickly when they contact their GP, and encourage people to take part in bowel cancer screening when invited.   

Our advice to anyone experiencing possible symptoms of bowel cancer is to be persistent. Your GP will want to see you to help find out what’s wrong. If your symptoms don’t get better, you should go back. Sometimes, it can take several appointments to find out what’s causing your symptoms.  

If you’re of screening age, we encourage you to complete the test when you receive it through the post.” 

• Learn more about our policy and campaigning work 
• Become a campaign supporter to help lead the change and improve early diagnosis of bowel cancer 
• Read our five-year strategy that aims to ensure more people are diagnosed at the earliest stages when the disease is easier to treat