Hundreds of patients with pancreatic cancer have been denied surgery that saved their lives due to delays

Hundreds of patients with pancreatic cancer die unnecessarily due to delayed treatment after diagnosis, a major report said.

More than 800 patients with pancreatic cancer diagnosed at stages one or two do not undergo life-saving operation, even if it multiplies by ten the chances of survival.

Without surgical intervention, only 2.3% of people survive for five years or more, but this figure rises to 22.3% for people whose tumor has been removed.

A new report from Pancreatic Cancer UK warns that patients often have to wait months before undergoing a test to determine if they are eligible for surgery. It is often too late. Two-thirds of patients likely to have surgery are not operated on.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly types of cancer. Only 1% of the 9,800 people diagnosed each year will still be alive in 10 years and 93% will die in the next five years. More than a quarter will die in the month following the diagnosis.

Diana Jupp, executive director of Pancreatic Cancer UK, said: "The terrible truth behind this report is that too many patients with pancreatic cancer are denied their only chance of survival because they are not just not treated quickly.

"One in four people diagnosed with this devastating disease die within a month, making it the fastest-killing cancer. It's so fierce that patients can not afford to wait.

The report coincides with the launch of Pancreatic Cancer UK's "Demand Faster Treatment" campaign, which requires surgery within 20 days of diagnosis by 2024.

The charity is calling for the creation of a one-stop shop that allows patients to quickly complete all the tests needed for operations to take place as quickly as possible.

A recent accelerated surgery pilot project in university hospitals, the NHS Foundation Trust in Birmingham, showed that it was possible to reduce the commissioning time from two months to just over two weeks.

"Our new analysis clearly shows that treating patients early for surgery could at least give them at least more valuable time with loved ones and potentially save lives," added Jupp.

"The Birmingham team has proved that it was possible. Deploying their innovative approach to surgery in the UK can generate cost savings for the NHS and, most importantly, significantly improve the survival of the most deadly and widespread cancer. "

The Birmingham study also found that the more people waited for surgery to remove their tumor, the less likely they were to be operated on, which greatly reduced their chances of succeeding in life.

Of the patients who waited 21 to 40 days before being operated on, 15% were subsequently unable to have surgery; among patients who waited between 40 and 60 days, 24% were unable to undergo surgery.

Tom Adney, 42, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January 2018 after becoming jaundiced, but received treatment within three weeks of diagnosis.

Mr. Adney said, "I was surprised by the speed with which this happened, but looking back, I think time is running out and there is no time to waste.

"My good friend also had pancreatic cancer and died earlier this year. It's difficult because, by comparison, my story is much more optimistic. It only makes me realize how lucky I was.

"The statistics are really discouraging for people with pancreatic cancer and I've been so lucky that my cancer has been contracted and that I've been able to undergo surgery as quickly."