A LEADING cancer charity has warned of the effect coronavirus has had on the number of people being referred for cancer tests.

During July, the number of people referred for cancer tests was down by almost 20 per cent compared to the same month in the previous year.

Macmillan Cancer Support also warned that fewer people were being treated for cancer – with a 17 per cent drop when compared to July 2019, and a 15 per cent drop in June when compared to the previous year.

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Richard Pugh, head of partnerships for Macmillan Cancer Support in Wales, said: “We need to be clear that there are some clear signs of recovery in the new data released today – with the number of people being referred for tests rising to 11,903 compared to just 4,913 in April at the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Yet this means there is still a large and worrying gap between the number of people being tested and treated for cancer in Wales, and the numbers we would realistically expect to see – meaning there could be thousands of people in Wales with an undiagnosed or untreated cancer because of the impact of coronavirus.

“This is why it is so vitally important that cancer does not become the forgotten C of this pandemic.

“With growing concern over winter pressures, predictions of a second wave of coronavirus and two areas of Wales already in local lockdowns, we need to make sure that people with cancer do not get left behind.

“It is against this backdrop that Macmillan is calling on anyone who has a new and unusual symptom to contact their GP as soon as they can – whether it is a cough, unexplained bleeding or a worrying lump, please contact your GP as they are still here to help you.”