'5,000 a year die' due to delayed cancer diagnosis

GPs are being urged to fast-track cancer testing to reduce the number of people who die as a result of late diagnosis.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has updated its guidelines, and is now recommending that in some cases where cancer is suspected, patients are referred for tests before referral to a specialist.

"There are about 10,000 people a year who are dying of cancer in the UK," said Dr Steve Hajioff, who helped develop the guidance.

"And about half of those, 5,000 people a year, are because of delayed diagnosis."