A major study has found that thousands of people in England with leukaemia encounter unnecessary delays in receiving a diagnosis, with almost one in four patients affected.
The investigation, carried out for Leukaemia UK, reviewed 12,770 cases of both acute and chronic leukaemia diagnosed between April 2015 and March 2023. The years most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic (2020-2022) were deliberately excluded to give a clearer picture.
Acute leukaemia patients, whose disease can progress rapidly, were among the worst affected. The study found that 28% experienced a delay after their first GP visit, 21% encountered setbacks despite returning for further appointments, and 15% waited even after abnormal blood results had been recorded.
Many only received confirmation of their illness once it became an emergency. Of those who faced delays, 26% were eventually diagnosed in urgent hospital settings. Overall, 37 per cent of leukaemia patients in the UK are diagnosed in A&E – almost double the cancer average of 21%.
Fiona Hazell, chief executive of Leukaemia UK, said: “This report shows clearly that too many people with leukaemia are slipping through the cracks in our healthcare system. This is a story that we sadly hear far too often from patients and their families, with many people reaching an avoidable crisis point. Every diagnosis counts but currently we are still failing too many patients. We must do better for the thousands of people diagnosed with leukaemia every year.”
Tracey Palmer-Hole, who was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia, described her own struggle. She had repeated GP visits with complaints including tiredness, bone pain and mouth ulcers, but was told it was rheumatoid arthritis.
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“I wasn’t offered a full blood count test and was told it was rheumatoid arthritis, but the medication didn’t help,” she said. “It wasn’t until I fainted and ended up in A&E two months later that I was finally diagnosed with AML. While the care I received was exceptional and I feel very lucky to be in remission, that is not the case for everyone with leukaemia. I fully support Leukaemia UK’s call for change – early diagnosis saves lives.”
The charity has urged the Government to ensure the forthcoming National Cancer Plan prioritises blood cancer patients, stressing that reforms could save lives if acted upon quickly.
Ms Hazell added: “These findings should be a wake-up call for Government that they must urgently address the needs of people with leukaemia in the upcoming National Cancer Plan.”
Professor Willie Hamilton, of the University of Exeter, echoed the concerns. “These findings highlight the scale and impact of diagnostic delays in leukaemia. We know that early diagnosis is critical in leukaemia, especially in aggressive types like AML. These statistics reinforce the urgent need for clearer referral pathways, faster access to blood tests, and better support for GPs in knowing when and where to seek help for patients with possible leukaemia earlier.”
