A BROMSGROVE woman who lost her father to pancreatic cancer is calling on the Government to do more to save the lives of patients with the disease.
Rebecca Gossage is backing Pancreatic Cancer UK’s ‘No Time To Wait’ campaign, after her dad Keith Bromyard’s treatment with an oncologist was delayed.
Keith, after complaining of stomach pain, had to wait over a month for an appointment and, once diagnosed, was offered chemotherapy.
However, she said after several cancelled appointments and a seven-hour wait in an ambulance, he died 44 days after diagnosis without receiving any treatment.
Keith with his grandchildren.
“The government have been saying that everybody will get a GP appointment within two weeks.
“Two weeks when you have pancreatic cancer is a huge amount of time – it is too long – it is so fast.
“It must be higher on the government’s agenda because of the signs dad was presented with, if they had been picked up earlier with a scan, it might have been a bit more manageable for everybody.”
Rebecca is concerned more families may face similar experiences this winter as GP and hospital services become more stretched.
A poll by Pancreatic Cancer UK found eight in ten GPs feared extreme pressures on the NHS this winter would prevent people with pancreatic cancer and other less survivable cancers from having lifesaving treatment.
It also discovered a further 92 per cent of GPs thought workforce shortages this winter could lead to poorer outcomes for cancer patients and only five per cent of GPs were confident the Government would urgently act to provide effective cancer patient support.
Keith and Rebecca on her wedding day
Pancreatic Cancer UK fears this situation will worsen and has launched its ‘No Time to Wait’ campaign to demand urgent action be taken to save lives this winter.
The charity wants the government to publish funded cancer plans to deliver faster diagnosis and treatment for people with pancreatic cancer.
Diana Jupp, CEO of Pancreatic Cancer UK, said the pandemic, staff shortages and underfunding had all pushed the NHS to breaking point.
“Pancreatic cancer is the quickest killing cancer, and any delays to diagnosis and treatment could cost people their chance of survival.
“We cannot afford to continue lurching from one worsening crisis to another.
“People with pancreatic cancer, their loved ones, and hardworking NHS staff all deserve better.”
