Craigavon mum: Postponement of my cancer treatment makes me sick with worry, as charity calls on Assembly for urgent action plan

Claire McConville, 47, is speaking out as part of an urgent call by Macmillan Cancer Support to the Assembly to publish a recovery plan for cancer services after coronavirus closed down most treatment.

The charity says it has experienced “unprecedented demand” for its existing services under lockdown, including an increase in calls to its telephone helpline.

Many calls - 82,000 people in NI have cancer - are driven by anxiety and uncertainty as some patients see their cancer treatment changed, postponed or cancelled due to coronavirus, the charity said.

Claire was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer last year and since her diagnosis in July has undergone chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery.

She was due to attend an appointment in March for further surgery, but this has been put on hold.

Although she is on an urgent waiting list, she has received no indication of when the surgery will be rescheduled and has been struggling with her fears.

“The uncertainty is really difficult to deal with,” she said. “I am constantly worried about what’s happening to me while I’m waiting for a new date.

“I’m worried about my physical health, but the delay is also taking its toll emotionally. I’m struggling to sleep as my head is racing with anxiety overnight, and some of the support services that had been helping me to cope have also been cancelled including counselling and physiotherapy.

“I have good days and bad days at the moment, but I can’t help but worry about how long my wait might be.

“I know that many other people are in the same situation, so how long will it take for people like me, living with cancer, to get the urgent treatment that we need?”

Steven McIntosh, director of policy, campaigns and influencing at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “Fears surrounding diagnosis and treatment have not disappeared during the crisis, they have multiplied. Claire’s experience demonstrates just how seriously people are being affected by delays here.

“We are calling on the Assembly to urgently publish a recovery plan for cancer services so that people living with cancer can access the treatment they need as soon as possible.

“This means having the right staff, protective equipment and testing to deliver safe care. For anyone whose treatment continues to be affected, a package of clinical, emotional and practical support to meet their current needs should be made available.”

There are 82,000 people living with cancer in Northern Ireland right now, many of whom are dealing with the same concerns as Claire, he added.

Tom Black, Northern Ireland Chair of the British Medical Association, said a review is urgently needed to get cancer patients back into the system.

“This is a very difficult situation and there will be many patients right across Northern Ireland who have concerns about treatment that has now been postponed,” he told the News Letter.

“A recent survey of our members told us that over 60% of doctors here said the situation was ‘worsening’ for non-covid patients, and 44% said their main concern at this time was the longer-term impact on patient clinical demand.

“We need to urgently look at how we begin to get patients with non-covid illnesses such as cancer back into the system, as well as dealing with ongoing covid cases and the new covid cases that will undoubtedly emerge. Our waiting lists have not gone away during this pandemic. We would continue to urge anyone who is experiencing any symptom they are worried about like bleeding, new bumps and lumps, breathlessness or chest pain to see their GP.”

The Department of Health responded that staff have worked hard to ensure urgent cancer treatment has continued during lockdown.

A spokeswoman said: “The Department acknowledges the severe impact that Covid-19 has had on a range of key services including cancer services. The need to ensure patient safety and meet the challenges inherent in responding to the pandemic has meant that many procedures and diagnostic appointments have had to be postponed or delayed.

“However our dedicated staff have worked incredibly hard to ensure that urgent and emergency cancer treatment has continued during this period. Where difficult decisions were taken to delay diagnostics or treatment during the response to Covid-19, safety netting was in place to ensure that cancer patients can resume treatment on the appropriate pathway as soon as it is safe to do so.

“In parallel with continuing to manage this crisis, significant work is underway to rebuild our health and social care system in the wake of the first Covid-19 surge. Our immediate focus in the coming weeks will be on stepping up any urgent services which were paused. Trusts have already been tasked with developing service rebuilding plans for respective areas including cancer services.”

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