Reluctance to attend hospital tests and come forward about symptoms could be contributing to delays in lung cancer diagnosis, a Cancer Research UK survey of GPs across the UK shows.

The study of 1,000 GPs has helped to explain a decline in both diagnosis and treatment rates for the disease, with urgent referrals dropping by around a third (34%) since March last year.

Michelle Mitchell, Cancer Research UK’s chief executive, said: “We’re hugely concerned for people who have symptoms but haven’t come forward or are putting off further tests.”

Roughly 20,300 fewer people in England were urgently referred for suspected lung cancer between March 2020 and January 2021 compared to the same period the year before, while 9% fewer started treatment between April 2020 and January 2021.

Results from the February survey show GPs were most worried that patients not wanting to receive care was leading to lung cancer delays.

The highest reported concern was reluctance to attend hospital for tests (91% of GPs felt this was contributing to delays), followed by patients with symptoms not coming forward to primary care (78%).

Other pandemic-related factors include increased turnaround time for diagnostic tests (73% of GPs), difficulty in identifying symptoms via remote consultation (68%) and turnaround time for COVID-19 testing prior to lung tests (54%).

Dr Neil Smith, Cancer Research UK’s GP adviser, said while initial advice to stay at home and isolate if people had a new, continuous cough, could mean some people understandably delayed seeking help, we know delays to potentially life-saving treatment may mean lung cancer could progress.

“COVID-19 has created a perfect storm of problems, but the tide is turning as cases drop and vaccines are rolled out.”

Smith assured the public that hospitals and surgeries are as safe as possible, and urges people with symptoms to contact their GP and attend any follow-on tests. Symptoms include a cough that lasts longer than three weeks, a change in a lingering cough or coughing up blood.

For most, these symptoms won’t be an indicator of cancer, but going through this process is just as important for everyone.

Smith also encouraged those who’ve been unable to get through to their doctors’ surgery to keep trying. “GPs like me are still here to help you.”

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