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The two-year Covid crisis has brought into sharp focus how devastating late diagnosis and failure to access treatments has been. There are around 367,000 new cancer cases in Britain every year ‑ more than 1,000 a day.
Some 14,000 men have prostate cancer but were not diagnosed during the pandemic, while there are now feared to be as many as 100,000 “missing” cancer patients in the UK ‑ those who have the disease but do not know, or have not come forward.
The NHS says at least 85 percent of patients should wait no more than 62 days to start treatment following an urgent referral from a GP.
But this target has not been met for six years, with the number of patients who should have been diagnosed quicker or started treatment sooner now at 63,873.
Meanwhile, more than one million people desperately need tests and treatment.
It all adds up to a ticking timebomb, with repercussions that will be felt for decades.
However, a few simple tweaks to our lifestyles could significantly improve outcomes.
Here, on the day he starts a free online cancer masterclass, Prof Sikora ‑ a globally-respected oncologist and former director of the World Health Organisation’s Cancer Programme ‑ shares his top 10 tips.
He said: “I fear none of us understand how serious this crisis is.
“For almost 50 years I’ve been involved in cancer diagnosis, treatment and research. There is no doubt we’ve come on in leaps and bounds in that time, but compared to other diseases which have been eradicated or nullified there’s a long way to go.
“Key questions remain unanswered – mainly, what causes cancer to develop? The honest answer is, in some cases we have no idea.”
Prof Sikora continued: “There are risk factors, but I’ve had some of the fittest and healthiest people you could imagine sitting in my clinic following a diagnosis. Tragically, there is often no rhyme or reason.
“But that is not to say nothing can be done to reduce our risk. Over the years I have seen ludicrous examples of potential risk factors; the nonsense that can be peddled is infuriating and detracts from proven and effective methods.
“We are all big enough and ugly enough to make our own decisions on how to live our lives.
“From my experience, a handful of small but determined changes can have a massive positive impact on a person’s health.
“One in two of us will catch cancer at some stage in our lives, it’s now estimated.
“With cancer there are no guarantees. However, from my experience, here are 10 tips which could be potentially helpful.
“If we all followed these relatively simple steps those odds would change dramatically in our favour. Why not start today?”
1 You are what you eat ‑ we run on what we put in. If it’s processed junk, our health reflects that. Reduce fatty foods and red meat, increase fibre and fruit and vegetables. That’s not to say we can never enjoy a treat but there needs to be a balance.
2 A pandemic of obesity ‑ 28 percent of adults in England are obese, 36 percent overweight. The consequences of being dangerously overweight are vast. An increased risk of cancer is part, as are serious heart and joint problems.
3 Healthy habits ‑ getting fit does not happen by accident. Studies show decreased risk of cancer for those who exercise regularly. It doesn’t have to be a half-marathon or 90 minutes of football. Top tip? Walk, walk and walk some more. A massively underrated form of exercise, free and accessible. A dog can help as your trainer.
4 Moderation ‑ alcohol every now and again won’t harm. But consistent, excessive consumption puts your body under extreme pressure, the liver in particular. I’m not suggesting you cut it out but slow down and show sense.
5 Less worrying ‑ the world is full of worries we can’t change. Focus on what you can control. Stress can do horrible things. It can eat away at a person in ways we do not fully understand. Stress is a poison so anything you can do to reduce it will only be a positive.
6 Enjoy the sun safely ‑ being in the fresh air is great for health and I fully encourage it but when the sun is strong take correct precautions. Cover exposed skin or use suncream ‑ skin cancer is a horrid disease. Sun radiation damages cells.
7 Safe sex ‑ an awkward topic but ignoring it only makes the situation worse. Certain sexually transmitted infections play a huge role in the development of cancer, especially for women. It can affect the ability to carry a child and give birth. If you have sex with multiple partners, take precautions by using barrier contraception.
8 Smoking kills ‑ most tips have some ambiguity and the risks are not always clear-cut. Not smoking. It can cause cancer anywhere and it releases harmful chemicals into your body and the surrounding air. I have treated multiple heavy smokers for an entirely avoidable disease.
9 Early diagnosis ‑ sometimes it is not possible to prevent cancer but we can stop it growing if we catch it early. Screening lets us tackle it in stage one or two, with far greater survival odds and less complicated treatment.
10 Perhaps most importantly ‑ if you have concerning and persistent symptoms, get checked. Symptoms are diverse, but generally it continues over time and worsens. There are up to 90,000 “missing cancer patients – make sure that you are not one.
Prof Sikora will explore his ideas in his online cancer course starting today. It is free, using code PREVENTION, but a donation to Macmillan Cancer Support is encouraged.
Check it out online at: getchapter.app/@karol/cancer
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