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Tameside doctor urges people to get the signs of cancer checked out early

A local GP and co-chair of Tameside's Clinical Commissioning Group has appealed for anyone with symptoms of cancer to come forward after a drop in diagnosis’s during the pandemic.

Dr Ashwin Ramachandra says that referrals have been much lower than they would have expected, with lung cancer diagnosis in particular down by more than a quarter.

Rather than rates of cancer falling, it means that people with worrying symptoms aren’t visiting the GP.

Dr Ramachandra explained: “Last year has been extremely challenging not only for the NHS and its services but also for people and the community. While quite rightly COVID has been the main focus for the NHS, who’ve worked extremely hard to look after the people with this problem, the NHS has also worked extremely hard on the non Covid related issues, specifically I want to talk about cancers.

“There has been a significant drop in the number of people coming forward with symptoms of cancers, especially at the start of the pandemic that was the case. It did improve as the year progressed but as of December lung cancer referrals reached about 73% of pre-covid levels. That means that there are a good number of people with worrying symptoms who are still not contacting their GP.

“GP practices have remained open during the pandemic and have adapted to the challenges and continue to provide care safely. 

“If you have any worrying symptoms please get them checked.”

The most common symptoms of lung cancer are:

  • A cough for three weeks or more (that isn’t Covid)
  • A chest infection that keeps coming back
  • Coughing up blood
  • A long standing cough that has suddenly gotten worse
  • An ache or pain when coughing or breathing
  • Persistent breathlessness, tiredness or lack of energy
  • Loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss.

Dr Ramachandra added: “Early diagnosis and treatment can save lives so any of these symptoms please get in touch with your GP. More often than not it is nothing serious but what is important is finding cancers early makes it more treatable. That’s the key thing I want to mention.

“NHS staff have worked on establishing Covid secure cancer hubs. They area prioritising people for surgery based on the clinical need.”

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