Parliamentary Yearbook examines a recent report by Macmillan Cancer Support. The report reveals that hundreds of thousands of cancer survivors live with poor health or disability following cancer treatment for which they should be offered continuing support.
According to figures produced by the charity Macmillan Cancer Support this year, by 2020 while one in two people will get cancer, almost four in ten of those will not die from the disease. The charity warns that while it is good news that more people are surviving cancer, “progress can be a double-edged sword”. Recent research by Macmillan reveals a further startling figure that, while many patients recover well, at least one in four of those living with cancer - around 500,000 in the UK - face poor health or disability after treatment. The charity is concerned that the NHS has underestimated the severity of the issue.
Professor Jane Maher, Chief Medical Officer of Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “Put simply, the better we get at treating and curing cancer patients, the more people we have living with the long-term effects of cancer and its treatment”.
The details are contained in the charity’s report ‘Throwing Light on the Consequences of Cancer and it Treatment’ (and its accompanying lay summary report ‘Cured - But at What Cost?’).
Although, the precise impact on the NHS is not known, the report makes clear that there is a substantial level of need. It describes a significant proportion of cancer patients experiencing a wide range of distressing long-term problems. It estimates the following figures for people currently living with the long-term consequences of cancer and its treatment.
• 90,000 people currently living with gastrointestinal problems, including faecal incontinence, chronic diarrhoea and bleeding
• 150,000 people affected by urinary problems such as incontinence
• 240,000 people with associated mental health problems
• 350,000 people living with sexual difficulties
The report also describes the wider consequences, including social isolation and inability to continue working leading to financial difficulties and further isolation.
The emphasis is not just on those given the ‘all-clear’ but also on those still undergoing primary treatment. It makes clear that the issue is not restricted to older patients in poor health, stating that: “A high proportion of those who are treated for cancer as children or young adults can face the long-term consequences of treatment, such as heart problems or second cancers, for the rest of their adult life.”
It warns that while most patients affected by these issues will be using a range of NHS resources, “patients often do not report the full scale of their problems and their needs are often not fully met”.
According to Ciaran Devane, Chief Executive for Macmillan Cancer Support: “By throwing light on the scale of the problem, it shows the Government and the NHS that we must take action, particularly if we are to cope with the increased demand on services.” He believes that many healthcare professionals underestimate the long-term consequences of cancer and its treatment, and some can feel uncomfortable talking about something for which they may feel partly responsible.
Whilst he acknowledges the positive fact that more people are being cured of cancer, he emphasises that “we have to recognise that ‘not dying’ is not the same as ‘being well’. Mr Devane has called specifically for the NHS to ensure that all cancer patients receive a “cancer recovery package” at the end of their treatment.
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