Of all cancer types, referrals for suspected lung cancer have been the hardest hit according to weekly two week wait (2ww) figures(link is external) in England. At the end of August, the number of people sent for urgent review and tests in England was still at only around 60% of pre lockdown figures.
It’s thought that initial advice for people to stay at home and isolate if they had a new, continuous cough could have led to some people delaying seeking help.
“Given the overlap in symptoms with COVID-19 it’s unsurprising the suspected lung cancer pathway has been the slowest to recover, especially when many patients at the highest risk of the disease are also those who may be more likely to become seriously unwell if they contract COVID-19,” – Dr Richard Roope, a Cancer Research UK GP