Young in Cancer Check Delays

Young people with cancer are having to endure long delays before getting a diagnosis, experts will warn today.

Cancer should be cons-idered the first possibility in those presenting with symptoms rather than as the last resort, they say.

Three studies will be presented today at a Teenage Cancer Trust conference in London. Tim Eden, professor of cancer in teenagers and young adults at Manchester University, will present one that found the time lapse between a youngster presenting with symptoms and diagnosis ranged from four to 184 weeks in the UK.

A second study found a range of two to 192 weeks, suggesting long delays before health professionals recognise something is wrong.

Sam Smith, a nurse consultant at the Christie Hospital, Manchester, will present a study that found four out of five sought help quickly.

Half of those with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, brain and bone cancers had to visit their GP four or more times before referral to a specialist.

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