Survivors' illnesses neglected, cancer charity warns

Increased cancer survival rates can leave patients facing neglect as they struggle with serious illnesses, a charity said today.

Macmillan Cancer Support is warning that some cancer survivors who go on to develop other problems arising from their treatment are not being looked after.

The charity has estimated that around 250,000 patients who live for at least five years after being diagnosed go on to suffer chronic health problems such as memory loss, bowel problems, and bone and heart disease.

Professor Jane Maher, Macmillan's chief medical officer, said not advising these people about these potential problems can harm lives.

She told the BBC: "Not managing these consequences of treatment can produce unnecessary anxiety at one end of the spectrum, and it can also cause real problems to people in terms of disabling their lives at the other end.

"They need to know what is their risk of cancer coming back, and what is their risk of the treatment causing them problems in the future, so that they can do the things that they can do to help themselves.

"They should know what to report and who to report it to, and they can be assured that they can get back into the system to have those problems dealt with months, years, even decades after the treatment."

Macmillan Cancer Support said some doctors were not aware of the possible long-term effects of cancer.

The Department of Health said it recognised the importance of providing care and assistance for people living with and beyond cancer.

It added that it was looking at a "range of approaches to survivorship care" including individual care plans.