Fears suspension of cancer services will cost lives
Cancer charities want the Scottish government to restart cancer services disrupted by Covid-19.
During the pandemic, cancer services including screening prgrammes, were halted to free up capacity in the NHS.
And national programmes to detect breast, bowel and cervical cancer early have been suspended indefinitely.
Specialists including cancer charities have voiced concern about the long-term impact on survival.
Janice Preston, Macmillan's head of services in Scotland, says people need to know when operations and screening will restart.
"The anxiety that people have over cancer is real," she says. "People on treatment are frightened of getting coronavirus, or of their cancer getting worse if their treatment is altered or delayed. So we need to do as much as possible to address those fears and make sure people know what to expect."
Of the approximately 32,000 patients diagnosed with cancer every year in Scotland, about 12,000 are usually sent for surgery as their first line treatment. But 85% of cancer specialists who were surveyed by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in April said they were carrying out fewer cancer operations.
Last month Scotland's interim chief medical officer voiced fears that people with cancer symptoms are not coming forward due to the coronavirus crisis.
Dr Gregor Smith said there had been a 72% reduction in urgent suspected cancer referrals by doctors.
He said GPs had reported far fewer people than usual coming forward with "symptoms and signs" of cancer.
Dr Smith said: "I don't believe for a second that these diseases or these concerns have simply disappeared, so it leaves me worried that there are people out there who are not seeking help from their GP when they might need it.
"Anyone who has new or persistent symptoms that are worrying them should seek help and advice. Maybe you've found a new lump or have new or unusual bleeding, or have a persistent change in your bowel pattern.
"My message is don't ignore it - if it was urgent before Covid-19, it remains urgent now."
