Experts warn doctors are missing ‘invisible’ cancer diagnoses

• Neuroendocrine cancer, affecting over 6,000 people annually in England, saw its rates increase by 371 per cent between 1995 and 2018.
• The average diagnosis time for this “invisible” cancer is four and a half years, with almost half of patients not diagnosed at their first referral.
• Experts warn that over half of neuroendocrine cancer cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage due to significant delays and frequent misdiagnoses.
• Common misdiagnoses include irritable bowel syndrome, asthma or menopause, leading to patients feeling unheard despite debilitating symptoms.
• Neuroendocrine Cancer UK and medical professionals are urging for urgent attention to speed up diagnosis, as delays cause serious harm and limit treatment options for patients.

IN FULL

Patients with ‘invisible’ cancer being turned away by doctors