'My cancer spread while I waited months for surgery': The cost of England's cancer wait times
A report highlights the struggles of patients in England facing significant delays for cancer surgery, with many waiting well beyond the 62-day target. Experts warn that the government's current goals are becoming impossible to meet due to a lack of planning and resources.
Why it matters
The failure to meet cancer treatment targets has direct, life-threatening consequences for thousands of patients, sparking debate over NHS management and government accountability.
Image caption, Alan is one of thousands each month who are not being treated within the cancer target timeframe
Alan was diagnosed with lung cancer after a nodule was found in June last year.
The 70-year-old was meant to be operated on within weeks but ended up waiting nearly five months, by which time the cancer had spread, making his surgery more complex.
"I was so frustrated and angry and couldn't understand why they would leave me like that," says Alan.
On two occasions, scans were cancelled because machines had broken and for weeks he heard little or nothing from the hospital about when he would eventually have the urgent surgery.
Alan is one of thousands each month in England who are not being treated within the target timeframe.
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