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Cancer Doctor Says Treatment Targets Not Fair Patients' Needs Must Be Considered

Posted on: Friday, 25 March 2005, 15:00 CST

ONE of Scotland's top cancer doctors today called on politicians to set fairer targets for treating patients.

Professor Allan Rodger, a leading member of the Regional Cancer Advisory Group for the west of Scotland, said existing standards failed to recognise cancer sufferers' individual needs.

He said the Scottish Executive must refine targets to allow doctors and patients to make the decisions that are right for them.

His call came after it emerged this week that almost one in five Glasgow women with breast cancer did not begin treatment within a month of diagnosis, the current target.

In a separate study, it was also revealed services for patients with bowel cancer are also set to fail a tough two months' maximum wait between GP visit and surgery or treatment.

But Prof Rodger, who is the medical director of the Beatson Oncology Centre in Glasgow, said:

"You can't just say 'Cancer's cancer' and that's it.

"Circumstances have to be taken into account.

Different cancers behave differently."

He said there was a difference between failing the target and failing the patient.

And failing the patient was something the health service was determined not to do.

Prof Rodger said: "I have seen patients with non-invasive breast cancer who have had pressing arrangements for the next two weeks.

"I am not going to tell them they must have surgery tomorrow if that time will not make a difference to their treatment or outcome.

"At the same time, someone with an invasive breast cancer or advanced cancer of the gullet is certainly not going to be told 'You have to wait a couple of weeks'."

He said patients facing treatment with significant side-effects needed time to decide what was best for them.

The doctor insisted: "If they are diagnosed with cancer, they need to speak to experts and work out what is best."

Examples include women deciding whether to have a mastectomy or less damaging surgery, and men with prostate cancer who can opt for radical surgery or techniques with fewer side effects.

But Health Minister Andy Kerr said: "No woman should have to wait more than a month for breast cancer treatment and I am determined all health boards make sure this is the case."

Source: Evening Times; Glasgow (UK)

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