If ministers read today's headlines on cancer and still don't demand a proper briefing on it, then any sympathy I have left will evaporate.
Just one dedicated press conference on the issue would make a huge difference.
I cannot understand why it hasn't happened yet.
📢 We did it!
We've secured a secondary breast cancer audit from NHS England – to better understand the experiences of those with a secondary diagnosis. Thank you to everyone who supported our campaigns to make this audit a reality.
https://t.co/txYz1IlXXA
I can honestly say that this is easily the biggest crisis in oncology during my time in medicine.
When awareness is so important, we can't even have just one press conference on the subject.
It's infuriating. Early diagnosis is so vital, many lives will be lost unnecessarily.
Today, world health day, would be the perfect time for the PM to hold a press conference dedicated to non-COVID health issues.
Why not?
Go through common symptoms, why it's important to get them checked and outline the problems we are facing. It won't happen sadly.
If we catch cancer at the earliest point (very roughly) 90%+ will live for many years. This falls to well below 20% for later stages.
Deterioration doesn't always take years, it can be fast.
Tens of thousands of extra people have undiagnosed cancer - this is a crisis.
What are the common symptoms of cancer to look out for?
I made this video last year which may be of some use, so please watch and share if you find it worthwhile.
We're really facing a big problem here.
From someone who has seen the severe negative effects of a late diagnosis so many times - we need to tackle this more urgently.
It's all about encouraging people to come forward.
How to do it? Patient stories are good, please post yours if you are comfortable and I can retweet.
Can’t find a soul on here that thinks that’s a red card. How can both Lee Mason and Mike Dean both see it as a red? Tomas Soucek must get that overturned.
If there is one message we need to get across to people on World Cancer Day, it's to get any worrying symptoms checked.
For many people, they have not done so the last year. That will have severe negative consequences.
So please, if you are worried - get it checked early.