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News ArticleBreast cancer cases among women under the age of 50 have seen a 5 per cent increase in just one year, according to new analysis. This concerning rise comes as the charity CoppaFeel! claims that younger individuals presenting with symptoms of the disease are "routinely dismissed" by healthcare professionals. In response, the charity is advocating for the adoption of a seven-minute risk assessment. This proposed tool would consider factors such as family history to identify those who might benefit from earlier or more frequent breast screening. Currently, the NHS offers women mammograms – an X-ray of the breast – from their 50th birthday until they turn 71. According to its new report, one in six people diagnosed with breast cancer are aged 49 and under. Diagnoses in people under 30 jumped by 78% from 2001 to 2019 and from 2022 to 2023, breast cancer rates increased by 5 per cent among 25 to 49 year olds. The charity said patients diagnosed with breast cancer under 50 are almost twice as likely to have late-stage cancer compared with someone in their 60s, while under 25s are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with late-stage disease. Sophie Dopierala-Bull, director of services and engagement, CoppaFeel!, said: “Early diagnosis depends too heavily on whether young people know their bodies, whether they feel confident seeking help, whether they can access healthcare, and whether they are taken seriously when they get there. Read full story Source: The Independent, 25 June 2026
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News Article
Cancer doctor hiring freezes rise in nearly every region
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Cancer centres in nearly every region of England reported significant rises in recruitment freezes to oncology posts over the past year, according to new figures shared with HSJ. The Royal College of Radiologists’ president Stephen Harden warned that the growing constraints highlighted by the college’s research came at a time when cancer performance had stagnated – and that the NHS “desperately needed [more staff] to turn this round”. An exclusive regional breakdown calculated by the RCR based on its annual oncology workforce census, and shared with HSJ, found every region apart from two reported rises in the number of centres implementing recruitment freezes for oncology posts in 2025. The RCR’s Dr Harden said: “We completely get that we’re in a financially constrained environment but now is really not the time to be limiting recruitment to cancer posts, particularly around diagnosis and treatment. “Extra staff are desperately needed to turn this thing around. Waiting a month for your scan results – and longer – is not really what we should be about”. Read full story (paywalled) Source: HSJ, 18 June 2026 -
News ArticleThe human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has already saved an estimated 200 lives from cervical cancer in England, with this figure projected to rise significantly as more people receive the jab, new data suggests. Research spearheaded by Queen Mary University of London and funded by Cancer Research UK indicates the HPV vaccine is proving highly effective in eliminating cervical cancer nationwide. The study estimates that children vaccinated at 12-13 years old face a near-zero risk of dying from the disease before turning 30. Crucially, England recorded no cervical cancer deaths among women aged 20 to 24 between 2020 and 2024 – a historic first. The study, published in The Lancet medical journal, also found that from 2015-19 there was an 80% reduction in cervical cancer deaths among women aged 20-24. However, despite progress towards eliminating cervical cancer, experts are worried about falling vaccination rates. Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: “We know the HPV vaccine is extremely effective at stopping cervical cancer before it starts and for the first time, these findings show it is saving lives – a powerful example of what’s possible when science is backed by strong public health programmes. “Thanks to HPV vaccination and cervical screening, a future where almost nobody gets cervical cancer is now firmly in sight. “But uptake of the vaccine has dropped in recent years, and this progress is at risk. “It’s essential that the UK government and health systems urgently address this with targeted action to reach communities where uptake is the lowest. “Beating cervical cancer means beating it for everyone.“Every parent and guardian can support this by making sure children and young people get the HPV vaccine. “It’s also important that people take up cervical screening when invited, even if they have had the HPV vaccine.” Read full story Source: The Independent, 18 June 2026
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Content ArticleTo mark Learning Disability Week 2026, this episode of Voices for Safety explores a critical patient safety issue: the inequalities people with a learning disability face when accessing cancer care. Host Dr Louise Gorman speaks with Dr Oliver Kennedy, an NIHR Clinical Lecturer at the University of Manchester and a Medical Oncologist at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, whose research uncovers stark inequalities across the cancer care pathway in the UK. Drawing on a large-scale NIHR-funded study of over 180,000 people with learning disabilities, Dr Kennedy explains how they are less likely to be referred for specialist tests, more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage, and around half as likely to receive treatment, resulting in much shorter survival times. Together, they explore why these gaps exist – from communication challenges and diagnostic overshadowing to systemic barriers in screening and treatment – and discuss what needs to change across prevention, diagnosis, and care to create a more equitable system. Released during Learning Disability Week 2026, this episode highlights the urgent need for more inclusive, accessible healthcare systems and the importance of ensuring everyone can receive timely, effective, and safe cancer care. Further reading on the hub: Top picks: Breaking down the barriers faced by people with learning disabilities
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EventuntilLord Darzi’s independent investigation into the NHS in England delivered a stark assessment of cancer care. Highlighting the gap between policy and reality, it found that the NHS is failing to meet some of its most important commitments, with core cancer waiting time standards missed for more than a decade and survival rates lagging behind comparable countries. The government’s 10-year National Cancer Plan for England sets out bold ambitions to improve survival, boost early diagnosis, and deliver more equitable, patient-centred care. With ambitious targets set for 2029 and 2035, the key question remains: can the NHS deliver these commitments while still fixing today’s pressures? At this pivotal moment, leaders across the health and care system face the challenge of building cancer services that are not only fit for today, but ready to adopt the next wave of innovation. Progress is already visible in areas, but translating national ambition into consistent, real-world improvement for patients will require co-ordinated action across the system. This conference brings together leaders from cancer alliances, policy, clinical services, commissioning, and the VCSE sector to explore what is working, and what must change, to turn plans into practice. Register
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News Article
Advanced radiotherapy for prostate cancer to cut sessions from 20 to 5
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Thousands of men in England who have prostate cancer will be offered high-powered precision radiotherapy that will slash the number of treatment sessions they typically need from 20 to just five. Senior doctors said the technique – called SABR (stereotactic ablative radiotherapy) - would target the disease more effectively than standard radiotherapy and help reduce side-effects. The treatment is already offered to some patients with other types of cancer, including lung and brain. This is the first time it will be offered to low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer patients outside of trials. Of the 55,000 men diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, around 17,500 are deemed low or intermediate risk. NHS England said it expected all 48 radiotherapy centres around the country to start offering the treatment "within weeks". Read full story Source: BBC News, 10 June 2026 -
News ArticleThousands of NHS staff are being exposed to harmful levels of formaldehyde – a cancer-causing chemical that experts have likened to asbestos. Analysis of formaldehyde airborne monitoring results revealed employees in pathology departments across the UK are exposed to toxic levels of the chemical, with seven in 10 NHS pathology departments exceeding eight-hour European Union (EU) workplace limits. The findings, by authors from the University of Liverpool and Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, come after several former NHS and laboratory workers spoke to The Independent as part of a probe into concerns that staff are being exposed to unacceptably high levels of formaldehyde. One ex-NHS worker said he had sore eyes and a runny nose before he started to experience vomiting and nosebleeds from the exposure. Eventually, after three years, he had developed such severe problems with his breathing that he was unable to work. The chemical, which can be used in hospitals to preserve tissue samples, but can also be used to produce resins and adhesives, to preserve cosmetics, and as a disinfectant and fumigant, has been classified as cancer-causing in humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Read full story Source: The Independent, 10 June 2026
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Content Article
15 top picks: Men's health
Patient_Safety_Learning posted an article in Men's health
At Patient Safety Learning we believe that sharing insights and learning is vital to improving outcomes and reducing harm. That’s why we created the hub; providing a space for people to come together and share their experiences, resources and good practice examples. We have collated 15 resources relating to men's health, including information about male cancers, men's mental health, how to engage men earlier and insights around the impact of traditional ideas of masculinity on patient safety. *Trigger warning: some of the content below focuses on suicide. 1 Men's Health Strategy for England This document sets out the government’s 10-year strategy for men’s health in England. It details the government’s vision for men’s health over the next 10 years and actions they are taking now to improve the health and wellbeing of all men and boys in England. 2 Men’s Health: How to improve health outcomes, knowledge, and behaviours This report sets out the findings of new research conducted by Healthwatch England to inform the Government’s first-ever men’s health strategy for England. They commissioned a nationally representative poll of 3,575 men aged 18+ in June 2025 and also drew on local Healthwatch engagement, with men from diverse backgrounds, spanning a wide range of ages, ethnicities, occupations, and areas. 3 Men’s health: The lives of men in our communities Men in England are facing “a silent health crisis”, dying nearly four years earlier than women, while suffering disproportionately higher rates of cancers, heart disease and type 2 diabetes, according to a report by the Local Government Association. They are urging the Government to implement a men's health strategy similar to the women's health strategy of 2022. It wants men’s health to be recognised as “a national concern”. 4 Overcoming the barriers to engaging with prostate cancer Orchid is the UK’s leading charity for those affected by male cancer. In this interview, we speak to Ali Orhan, Chief Executive and Director of their Overcoming the Barriers to Engaging with Prostate Cancer project. Ali tells us how they are working alongside a network of volunteer community champions to improve awareness, support better outcomes and reduce health inequalities. 5 Prostate Cancer UK: risk checker Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, but most men with early prostate cancer don’t have symptoms. Use this risk checker to find out what you should do. 6 Samaritans Handbook: Engaging men earlier: a guide to service design This handbook from the Samaritans provides a set of principles upon which wellbeing initiatives for men should be based, drawn from what men have said is important to them. By following these principles, wellbeing initiatives are more likely to be effective for, and appeal to, men going through tough times before reaching crisis point. 7 Infopool prostate cancer patient resource This patient resource created by Prostate Cancer Research aims to equip patients and the public with information about prostate cancer. It contains information on testing and diagnosis, treatment choices, living with side effects, and clinical trials. 8 Men's Health - How can we take action? Here are our top 5 things to know and do Top tips for men on keeping healthy and advice on prostate and testicular cancer. 9 Prostate Cancer UK: Best practice pathway Developed to support healthcare professionals at the front line of prostate cancer diagnosis and care, Prostate Cancer UK's Best Practice Pathway uses easy to follow flowcharts to guide healthcare professionals deliver best practice diagnosis, treatment and support. 10 HSSIB report: Management of acute onset testicular pain This investigation reviewed the diagnostic and treatment pathway for testicular torsion. There was a predominant focus on delays and the human factors associated with the pathway. The investigation identified system-wide recommendations designed to prevent delays to the identification and treatment of testicular torsion happening in the future. 11 Prostate cancer: getting information and support This leaflet helps signpost people to support and information about prostate cancer, both nationally and regionally. 12 Why harmful gender stereotypes surrounding men’s approaches towards their feelings need challenging This blog explores men's mental health – how men are reluctant to seek support when they are struggling, why the suicide rate is so high, what initiatives exist to encourage men to seek help and what more could be done. 13 King's Fund blog: Inequalities in men’s health: why are they not being addressed? Almost half of England’s population is male, yet inequalities in men’s health seldom get specific attention. The women’s health strategy for England shone a light on the health care needs of girls and women through their life course, highlighting areas specific to their health – such as maternity and the menopause – and inequalities in health outcomes. But the wide, and widening, health inequalities experienced by men also require focus. 14 The incredibly obvious thing you should do about painful testicles Watch this short film about what to do if you experience pain in your testicle/s, by Cardiff Fertility Studies and the British Fertility Society, made in partnership with Orchid. 15 An Unfilled Prescription: Tapping Pharmacy's Potential to Boost Men's Health This report from the Men's Health Forum examines the role of community pharmacy in improving men’s health in the UK, the theme of Men’s Health Week 2026. The report sets out a five-point plan that pharmacies should adopt to become a male-friendly pharmacy, which encourages more men to engage. Share your insights and experiences Have you, or a loved one, experienced any of the issues raised in this blog? Would you like to share your insights to help improve outcomes in men's health? Perhaps you work in men's health and can share some of the barriers to safe care and what you believe needs to change to improve outcomes. You can share your thoughts in the comments below (sign up first for free) or email our team at [email protected]. -
Content Article
Prevention of future deaths report: Pamela Honeybone (25 September 2025)
Anonymous posted an article in Coroner reports
On 30 July 2025 an investigation was commenced into the death of Pamela Ann Honeybone, who died at Scarborough General Hospital on 19 October 2024 aged 90. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 23 September 2025. The conclusion of the inquest was that: Pamela Ann Honeybone died as a consequence of naturally occurring disease. Diagnosis of her condition was delayed when another patient was scanned in error instead of Mrs Honeybone, but it has not been possible to determine on the balance of probabilities that this contributed to her death. On the 19 of September 2024 Pamela Ann Honeybone was admitted to Scarborough General Hospital following a fall. She required CT scanning but another patient with the same first name underwent the investigation in error and its results were attributed to Mrs Honeybone. Mrs Honeybone’s condition continued to deteriorate and a CT scan undertaken on the 15 of October 2024 revealed the presence of an abdominal mass suggestive of lymphoma. Mrs Honeybone was moved to end of life care and she died at the hospital on the 19 of October 2024. Matters of concern: It was accepted in evidence that neither the doctor who escorted the wrong patient from the Emergency Department to radiology, nor the radiographer who undertook the CT scan on her, checked the identity of the patient in question. No transfer checklist was completed, and the patient was not asked to complete and/or sign the CT scanning questionnaire herself. No member of staff inquired as to the outcome of this patient’s CT scan prior to her discharge a few hours later. The scanning error was recognised by a radiologist on the 15th of October 2024, but was not conveyed to Mrs Honeybone’s treating team until late October, by which time she had died and her death had been scrutinised by the Medical Examiner and certified by her treating doctor as wholly natural and not requiring referral to the Coroner. As a result of the aforementioned delay, a Trust investigation did not commence until late November 2024. No prompt after action review therefore occurred in the hours and days after the error was recognised. When the Trust investigation did commence, staff directly involved either could not be identified or had no recollection of events. Despite hearing evidence that it was a doctor who would have escorted the wrong patient to scanning, the Trust Investigation focussed on nursing involvement with the patients in question and did not seek to identify and question medical team members. An Action Plan was drawn up as a result of the Trust Investigation, but for various reasons no audit of compliance with patient identification processes commenced until early August 2025, some ten months after Mrs Honeybone’s death. The results of the audit thus far were made available to me at inquest and indicate that 1 in 5 audited treatment encounters between staff of all grades and specialisms still occur without the patient being positively identified. The coroner heard evidence that while radiology transfer checklists are routinely completed ‘in hours’ at Scarborough Hospital when a dedicated HCA is on duty to perform this task, no such checklist is in use at the Trust’s York site at any time of the day. Mrs Honeybone’s misidentification occurred ‘out of hours’ at Scarborough when no designated person assumes responsibility for this task at that site. The coroner considers the above represent a continuing risk to others from misidentification and delayed responses to identified errors, with clear implications for patient safety. -
News Article
Thousands more UK black men to be invited for prostate cancer screening
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Thousands more black men will be invited to take part in a prostate cancer screening trial as the health secretary insisted he was “following the science” in not backing population-wide testing. James Murray accepted a recommendation from the UK national screening committee (UKNSC) that will result in only a few thousand high-risk men with a gene mutation being screened for the disease. However, he announced funding to expand the Transform trial, which is exploring the best ways to test for the disease, to ensure it includes more black men. Prostate cancer is the most common form of the disease in the UK, with more than 64,000 men diagnosed every year. Last week, the UKNSC recommended against screening all men using the prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test, saying it was “likely to cause more harm than good”. Instead, men with BRCA2 genetic mutations – which puts them at far higher risk – will be tested every two years between the ages of 45 and 61 if they have a family history of breast, ovarian, pancreatic or prostate cancers. Dr Ian Walker, director of policy at Cancer Research UK, said the decision would be “disappointing for some” but was in line with evidence as there was some debate over the reliability of the PSA test. The UKNSC also recommended against screening for other at-risk groups, including black men, saying there is “ongoing uncertainty on whether screening would cause more good than harm”. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 3 June 2026 -
News ArticleMillions of people with breast cancer could safely avoid chemotherapy as scientists have developed a DNA test that can distinguish between patients who are likely to benefit from the treatment and those who are not, according to trial results. The international study found that more than two-thirds of its participants could be spared the side of effects of chemotherapy and treated with hormone therapy alone. Chemotherapy can cause fatigue, nausea, hair loss, a weakened immune system and fertility issues. The study, led by University College London (UCL), involved more than 4,000 newly diagnosed patients over the age of 40 in the UK, Norway, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand and Thailand. The primary treatment for breast cancer is usually surgery to remove tumours. Chemotherapy is often recommended afterwards to diminish the risk of return. It is also regularly offered to people with early-stage breast cancer that has spread to the nearby lymph nodes. Clinicians are concerned the treatment provides little benefit to those with the most common type of breast cancer, UCL said. The university said more than 5,000 NHS patients a year could avoid chemotherapy as a result of the trial. Read full story Source: BBC News, 30 May 2026
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News Article
Lab fault sees hundreds fast-tracked for unnecessary cancer tests
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
More than 1,300 patients were referred for urgent bowel cancer investigations they may not have needed after a calibration error at a shared NHS pathology service. South West London Pathology identified a processing error affecting fecal immunochemical test (FIT) results, meaning results were five times higher than they should have been between 27 December 2025 and 4 March 2026. Of the 17,000 FITs processed during that period, 4,223 returned incorrect results. A total of 1,326 patients were subsequently placed on the two-week wait urgent cancer referral pathway and may have undergone a colonoscopy or CT colonoscopy, which they did not need. The error occurred after a unit conversion process – used to translate results into the format used by UK GPs – stopped being applied for a period of time. HSJ understands this was due to human error rather than a technical fault. 16 NHS trusts and one integrated care board spanning London and Surrey had patients referred, with 281 GP practices having registered patients impacted by the incident. Read full story (paywalled) Source: HSJ, 2 June 2026 -
News Article
Prostate cancer screening only for "a few thousand" high risk men
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Only "a few thousand" men who have a dangerous genetic variant and a family history of cancer should be screened for prostate cancer with a blood test, according to the final recommendations of scientific advisers. The UK's National Screening Committee says the harms of screening outweigh the benefits in all other groups. A major review by the National Screening Committee said for every 1,000 men screened in their 50s, it would save two lives from prostate cancer over the next 15 years. But it would also lead to 20 men being told they have a cancer that would never need treatment. Some prostate cancers grow so slowly you would have to reach 120 to 150 years old before they were a threat. However, they would have to live with that psychological burden of a cancer diagnosis for the rest of their lives. Out of those 20 men, 12 would end up having treatment they don't need, but that damages the prostate – potentially damaging their sex lives and causing some incontinence, meaning they would need a pad to catch leaking urine. "Once a prostate cancer is found, we still can't reliably tell which cancers need treatment or which do not – and the treatments available for prostate cancer can cause long-lasting harm," said Prof Sir Mike Richards, who chairs the screening committee and has prostate cancer himself. The only group where the benefits were greater than the harms is men with a BRCA2 gene variant and a family history of breast, ovarian, pancreatic, or prostate cancer. The final decision though rests with health ministers in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Read full story Source: BBC News, 28 May 2026 -
News Article
Supermarket lung cancer checks find 10,000 cases in England
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Mobile NHS scanning units, strategically placed in supermarket car parks, sports stadiums, and high streets across England, have detected lung cancer in over 10,000 individuals, new figures reveal. Crucially, more than three-quarters of these cases were identified at early stages one and two, significantly boosting treatment success rates, NHS England confirmed. This vital initiative forms part of the NHS Lung Cancer Screening Programme, which began in 2019, specifically targeting areas most affected by the disease. Early detection is paramount, with officials stating that patients diagnosed in the initial stages are 13 times more likely to survive for five years compared to those whose cancer is found later. Mobile NHS scanning units, strategically placed in supermarket car parks, sports stadiums, and high streets across England, have detected lung cancer in over 10,000 individuals, new figures reveal. Crucially, more than three-quarters of these cases were identified at early stages one and two, significantly boosting treatment success rates, NHS England confirmed. This vital initiative forms part of the NHS Lung Cancer Screening Programme, which began in 2019, specifically targeting areas most affected by the disease. Early detection is paramount, with officials stating that patients diagnosed in the initial stages are 13 times more likely to survive for five years compared to those whose cancer is found later. Professor Peter Johnson, NHS England’s national clinical director for cancer, said: "Lung cancer checks and scans save lives, so it’s fantastic the NHS has now diagnosed over 10,000 people – the majority at an early stage, when treatment is most effective. The Lung Cancer Screening Programme has been designed around where people already are, bringing scanners into their local communities to make it easier for people to get checked." Read full story Source: The Independent, 25 May 2026 -
News Article
Surgeon removed wrong part of bowel after tattoo mix-up
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
A cancer patient had the wrong part of their bowel removed during an operation after a surgeon mistook a tattoo for the site of a tumour, a report has said. It is one of 10 "never events" in the past 12 months, according to a report for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, which manages the NHS in north Wales. Five were listed as "wrong site" procedures, two involved incorrect implants, two involved retained objects such as swabs left inside patients, and one involved medicine administered by the incorrect route. In one case, a surgeon at Bangor's Ysbyty Gwynedd located what was said to be a very visible tattoo or marking and operated assuming it indicated the site of the patient's tumour. "This led the surgeon to take out the segment of bowel that did not have the cancer in it," said the report. A patient at Wrexham's Maelor Hospital attended a dermatology one-stop clinic after being referred through an Urgent Suspected Cancer clinical pathway, and underwent cryotherapy treatment in which cancer cells undergo extreme cold treatment. The patient was also listed for a minor operation the same day and it was after that procedure they told the clinic nurse that the incorrect area had been treated so further surgery was carried out the same day. The investigation into the incident is ongoing, said the report which is due to be considered at a meeting on Thursday. Read full story Source: BBC News, 24 May 2026 -
News Article
Melanoma skin cancer cases in UK hit record level, analysis finds
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
The number of cases from the most serious form of skin cancer have reached a record high across the UK, according to analysis by a leading cancer charity. Melanoma cases in the UK have risen above 20,000 for the first time ever, with 20,980 people being diagnosed with the form of cancer in 2022, according to analysis of the latest figures by Cancer Research UK. The charity has projected that by 2040, there could be a record 26,500 new cases of the disease every year in the UK, an increase of 23% in men, and 26% in women. The increases in skin cancer cases reflect the UK’s growing and ageing population, the charity said. Michelle Mitchell, the chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said it was concerning to see the rising numbers of people being diagnosed with melanoma skin cancers across the UK. The fact that most of these cases are preventable underlines the importance of people taking sun safety seriously,” Mitchell said. “Take care when the sun is strong by seeking shade, covering up and applying sunscreen and, if you notice any unusual changes to your skin, contact your GP. Whether it is a new or changing mole, a sore that doesn’t heal, or an area of your skin that looks out of the ordinary, it’s important to get it checked out. It probably won’t be cancer, but if it is, getting it diagnosed and treated early can make all the difference.” Read full story Source: The Guardian, 22 May 2026 -
News ArticleCancer patients are among dozens of people found to have been “harmed” after their diagnosis and treatment were delayed due to administrative failures at an NHS trust, The Independent can reveal. A review of hundreds of gynaecology patients under the care of consultant Dr Jim Wolfe at Salford Royal Hospital, in Greater Manchester, in 2024, was prompted by concerns that the necessary follow-ups were not carried out. The months-long audit revealed that some women had not been sent letters about their treatment, or their results had not been acted on for conditions including cancer, and concluded many had been “harmed” as a result. Northern Care Alliance Trust (NCA) NHS Trust, which manages the hospital, has apologised for the “distress we’ve caused” and said those affected had been offered support and ongoing treatment plans. Sources confirmed that Dr Wolfe is still working at the trust, but NCA said it would not comment on the status of its employees. But the revelation comes amid wider staff unrest over the trust’s gynaecology services with concerns about patient safety, workforce pressures and unsafe workloads. Read full story Source: The Independent, 17 May 2026
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News Article
Thousands of cancer patients in England to benefit from new immunotherapy jab
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Thousands of patients across England each year will benefit from a new immunotherapy treatment that can be used for several types of cancer, the NHS has announced. The injectable form of pembrolizumab, which can be administered in under two minutes, kills cancer cells by blocking a protein called PD-1, which acts as a brake on immune responses, allowing the immune system to recognise and attack cancer cells. This new form of immunotherapy will replace pembrolizumab, which is administered via an intravenous drip in a specialist clean room. Preparing and administering it can be time-consuming and expensive for NHS staff to maintain, taking about two hours per session for patient. Most of the 14,000 patients already taking pembrolizumab are expected to benefit from the new injectable version. It is estimated the treatment, which will be given every three weeks as a one-minute injection or every six weeks as a two-minute injection, will save the NHS more than 100,000 hours of preparation and treatment time each year. Up to 15,000 cancer patients became eligible last year for nivolumab, an immunotherapy injection that takes three to five minutes to administer. With the addition of this treatment, there are now two immunotherapies available for almost 30 types of cancer on the NHS. Prof Peter Johnson, the NHS national clinical director for cancer, said: “This immunotherapy offers a lifeline for thousands of patients and it’s fantastic that this new rapid jab can now take just a minute to deliver – meaning patients can get back to living their lives rather than spending hours in a hospital chair. “Managing cancer treatment and regular hospital trips can be really exhausting, and not only will this innovation make therapy much quicker and more convenient for patients, it will help free up vital appointments for NHS teams to treat more people and continue to bring down waiting times.” Read full story Source: The Guardian, 4 May 2026 -
News Article
One person diagnosed with cancer every 80 seconds in UK, report reveals
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
The number of people in the UK being diagnosed with cancer has reached a record high, with one person diagnosed every 80 seconds, a report reveals. Cancer Research UK found that more than 403,000 people were being diagnosed with the disease each year. The rise is largely due to a growing and ageing population, as people are more likely to develop cancer as they get older. The NHS is struggling to cope with rising demand for care. Cancer waiting times across the UK are among the worst on record, according to the report. Incidences have risen to 620 per 100,000 people, from 610 a decade ago, partly driven by rising obesity levels. The proportion of cases diagnosed early has barely changed, inching up from 54% to 55%. There have been some major successes. Death rates have fallen, and the proportion of people surviving for a decade or more has risen. But Cancer Research UK said this progress was now at risk of stalling, in part due to pressure on cancer services. It said the government’s recent national cancer plan for England was a crucial step towards improving care but there needed to be “funding and resources to translate ambition into impact”. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 23 April 2026 -
News Article
Steroids and the ‘silent’ cancer plaguing the manosphere
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
The patient, to look at him, was in the prime of his life: in his late thirties, fit and toned from hours spent in the gym. But the scans told a different story. Growing on his liver was a malignant tumour the size of a bowling ball. The obsession that had given him his chiselled physique had handed him a death sentence. The patient — like thousands of other gymgoers in the UK — had been taking anabolic steroids. The cancer was inoperable. There was nothing his doctors could do for him. “His life expectancy is probably about six or seven months,” said Stephen Wigmore, regius professor of clinical surgery at the University of Edinburgh. This was not the first young man whom Wigmore, who is also the head of surgery at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, had treated for liver cancer after heavy steroid use. He said the illegal trade in steroids in gyms, taken by predominantly young men pursuing the ideal of a masculine body, had created a “silent killer”. And he said this was encouraged by social media and the “manosphere” — a loose collection of online influencers and chat forums pushing misogynistic views and a new idea of masculinity. It is hard to tell the scale of the threat. “We are not talking about an epidemic,” Wigmore said. “This is very rare, but I’ve seen two cases in the last six months. And across the country each liver unit is seeing small numbers of young men in similar situations. “The irony of taking drugs to make oneself more beautiful but ultimately shortening one’s life is inescapable,” he said, comparing the phenomenon to the obsession of some young women with risky cosmetic surgery such as Brazilian butt lifts. Read full story (paywalled) Source: The Times, 18 April 2026 -
News Article
Timely cancer diagnosis ‘shouldn’t be a question of luck’ says Streeting
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
The Health Secretary has asserted that securing a timely cancer diagnosis "shouldn't be a question of luck," as he announced a substantial funding injection to facilitate patient checks closer to home. The government is investing £237 million into new and improved community diagnostic centres (CDCs) across England. Wes Streeting described the new CDCs as "part of the biggest expansion in NHS diagnostics in a generation." “The NHS delivered a record number of tests and scans last year but there’s still a long way to go before we’re catching disease on time,” Mr Streeting said. “The NHS should be there for all of us when we need it, catching illness earlier so we can treat it faster.” The investment will lead to four new CDCs in Gorton, Luton, Boston and Bideford, which will open in 2026/27. Some 17 CDCs will be expanded and 15 will receive enhancements to boost diagnostic capacity, the Department of Health and Social Care said. Mr Streeting went on: “These new CDCs are part of the biggest expansion in NHS diagnostics in a generation – continuing the progress we’re making and helping save lives. Read full story Source: The Independent, 14 April 2026 -
News Article
NHS improves genetic testing for minority ethnic cancer patients
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Thousands of cancer patients from minority ethnic backgrounds will have access to “groundbreaking” genetic testing on the NHS that previously discriminated against them. This routine form of genetic testing, used before chemotherapy treatment, could save the lives of Black and minority ethnic cancer patients who already face poorer health outcomes after diagnosis compared with their white counterparts. Before undergoing chemotherapy, cancer patients across England undergo genetic testing that can lead to changes in treatments to reduce the adverse side-effects chemotherapy can have, including mouth sores, hair loss, nausea and fatigue, and which can also be fatal. Up to 40% of the 38,000 patients treated with fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy in England will develop an adverse drug reaction to the treatment. Until last year, these genetic tests only looked for four types of DPYD gene variants, which are mainly found within the DNA of people from white European backgrounds. Consequently, this genetic testing was less effective on Black cancer patients, leading them to be more likely to experience severe side-effects including death after chemotherapy. These genetic tests are now being offered by the NHS across England to include testing for a fifth DPYD genomic variant, which is more prevalent among people from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds. Dr Veline L’Esperance, the senior clinical adviser at the NHS Race and Health Observatory, said that the introduction of these new genetic tests represents “tangible results for patients who have historically been left behind”. “Patients of African ancestry deserve the same standard of safety as everyone else, and now clinicians have the means to deliver it,” L’Esperance said. “What makes this significant is that it moves the conversation about ethnic health inequality in cancer care from words to action. This is the first concrete, clinical response to the evidence that Black and ethnic minority patients were being failed by tests designed around white European genetics.” Read full story Source: The Guardian, 13 April 2026 -
News ArticleAt the height of Covid, hundreds of cancer patients had mastectomies without the reconstruction that would normally accompany them. They would eventually get the surgery, they were told – but for many that promise feels more meaningless by the day Every time she lifts her arms to get dressed or hang out her washing, Julie Ford gets a painful reminder of one of the most terrifying experiences of her life. At 7am one day in April 2021, she had gone into hospital, alone and wearing a mask, to have her right breast and lymph nodes removed in a bid to stop breast cancer from spreading. Later that day, still groggy from the anaesthetic, in pain and with surgical drains hanging from both sides of her chest, she had staggered to the door with the help of two nurses. She was eased into a friend’s car and driven home to fend for herself. While Julie’s breast had been removed, it was not reconstructed. Usually, both procedures are carried out in the same operation. But as reconstruction using tissue from the patient’s abdomen is a complex, eight-hour procedure requiring a large surgical team, it was considered “non-essential” and paused by most NHS trusts during the Covid-19 pandemic. Like hundreds of women with breast cancer who underwent urgent mastectomies without reconstruction in 2020 and 2021, Julie was assured she could have the procedure once Covid restrictions lifted. But five years later, Julie, now 62, is still waiting. A national shortage of specialist surgeons and theatre space, as well as the need to prioritise new cancer cases, means many women like her, who had breasts removed during lockdown, feel they have been abandoned. They live in daily physical discomfort and mental distress as they continue to await the reconstructions they were promised years ago. A 2024 study found at least 2,200 patients who have survived breast cancer, or who were at high risk of developing it, were waiting for surgery across 40 NHS centres in England, with an average wait of 2.5 years. And Wood fears there is little to encourage struggling hospitals to clear the backlog. Instead of investing resources into “expensive and lengthy” surgeries such as breast reconstructions, NHS trusts that want to reduce the size of their overall waiting list have an incentive to prioritise quick, simple operations where several patients can be ticked off the list in a short time, he says. “There are capacity issues, with growing demand and a shortage of theatre time and surgeons’ time, but to tackle it you need to have [NHS trust] management that is bothered to find a solution, not just sit on their hands.” Read full story Source: The Guardian, 13 April 2026
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News ArticleMore than 2,000 Black men will die from prostate cancer in the next 10 years if the UK doesn’t change its screening programme, new figures reveal. Around 1 in 4 Black men in the UK will be diagnosed with the disease – twice the rate of white men. The reasons for the disparities vary, but contributing factors include genetics, a lack of awareness, delays in seeking help and barriers to accessing diagnostic tests. Last month, the government’s National Screening Committee (NSC) rejected proposals for a targeted prostate cancer screening programme for high-risk men, which includes Black men and those with a family history of cancer, because it said the harms of widespread testing outweigh the benefits and also cited a lack of available data on Black patients. Now, new estimates from the charity Prostate Cancer UK, shared with The Independent, suggest that if nothing changes, more than 2,300 Black men will die over the next decade, and at least 16,000 men will be diagnosed, if current rates of the disease continue. Amy Rylance, director of health services, equity and improvement at Prostate Cancer UK, said: "We were bitterly disappointed by the UK NSC's announcement that the evidence isn't yet strong enough to recommend targeted screening for Black men. “While we accept the committee's decision that the data they reviewed had too many gaps, a significant opportunity has been missed. The NHS holds electronic health data that could fill these gaps – but nobody has made full use of these records, and they weren't reviewed by the committee." She said that the charity would work alongside the NSC to find the missing data and build the evidence base needed to secure screening for Black men. Read full story Source: The Independent, 6 April 2026
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News Article
Deaths linked to ‘overwhelmed’ department
Mark Hughes posted a news article in News
At least eight cancer patients were harmed – and in some cases potentially died – because of operational and admin failures in an “overwhelmed” hospital department, HSJ has learned. A thematic review of 15 cases from the urology department at East Kent Hospitals University Foundation Trust said several of the patients had died, in some cases having developed metastatic cancer, following missed or late diagnoses. Others had suffered psychological harm as a result of delays. Read full article (paywalled). Source: Health Service Journal, 2 April 2026
