The latest figures show that late diagnoses for cancer in Worcestershire have remained stable throughout the pandemic.

Despite nationwide concern for increases in late cancer diagnoses, there has been a 1% decrease in Herefordshire and Worcestershire. 

At least 951 cases diagnosed by medics in the NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire CCG area had reached an advanced stage at the point of diagnosis in 2019.

There were 5,330 cancers diagnosed in Herefordshire and Worcestershire that year and stage four diagnoses, which carry the greatest mortality risk, represented 24% of those with a valid stage identified.

However, that was down from the 25% recorded the year before, showing a slight improvement.

A spokesman from Herefordshire and Worcestershire CCG said: “The stage at presentation in patients confirmed with cancer will vary from month to month and across each of the cancer specialities.

"Given the potential impact of the pandemic on patients not seeking assessment of their symptoms earlier and access to services being more difficult, the CCG is closely monitoring the national data available to healthcare systems on the overall percentage of early and late-stage presentations.

"The data available to us does not, at this stage, indicate any significant variation in what would normally be seen.

"We will continue to monitor this very closely and work with primary care and specialist cancer services to encourage people to see their GP or healthcare professional as early as possible.

“To support this, the CCG is working with system partners to increase the number of people participating in the national screening programmes, engaging with the public to increase awareness of cancer symptoms and supporting new initiatives such as the Galleri Cancer Trial, which aims to detect cancer at an early stage, often before the patient becomes symptomatic.  

“The CCG remains committed to delivering the ambition outlined in the NHS Long Term Plan to increase the number of people diagnosed at stage 1 and 2 to 75% by 2028, by increasing diagnostic capacity through the development of Community Diagnostic Centres and implementing rapid diagnostic cancer pathways all of which will contribute to diagnosing cancers earlier and improving outcomes for patients.”

Patients diagnosed at the earliest stage are between five and 10 times more likely to survive at least five years compared to those diagnosed at stage four.

Dr Jodie Moffat, head of early diagnosis at Cancer Research UK, said reducing the number of people diagnosed with advanced disease was crucial to saving lives and swift action was needed from the Government and NHS.

Dr Moffatt added: “Many factors can impact late diagnoses, and Covid has affected many of these, such as how readily people come forward with symptoms, or how long people need to wait for tests.

"Worryingly, waits for a cancer diagnosis and treatment were struggling well before the pandemic hit.

"Chronic shortages in staff and equipment mean cancer waiting times have been missed for years."

An NHS spokesperson said the health service was committed to ensuring that 75% of cancers are detected at stage one by 2028, adding that 95% of those diagnosed since March 2020 began treatment within a month.

A department of health and social care spokesman said cancer diagnosis and treatment is a priority for the government, adding that £10 billion was being invested in cutting waiting times.