BRITS are delaying seeking treatment for cancer due to long NHS waiting times – even if they have symptoms, according to a study.
The study of 2,000 adults found 29 per cent have put off seeking help due to long waiting times, while 22 per cent have avoided seeing a health professional altogether.
Alarmingly, one in five delayed seeing a doctor even after noticing possible cancer symptoms.
But doctors are warning this behaviour could mean cancers are going undiagnosed or being caught later when survival chances are reduced.
According to NHS data, more than a third of melanomas are picked up on routine pathways rather than urgent referrals – meaning delays in those lists could be hiding further undetected cancers.
It also emerged patients are increasingly open to solutions that speed up access to care, with 79 per cent claiming they would trust AI in healthcare assessments.
These views come against the backdrop of record NHS waiting lists, with more than 7.4 million treatments outstanding for 6.25 million patients in England.
More than half of those waiting have yet to receive any clinical contact, while more than 1,400 people have been waiting over 18 months to begin routine treatment.
The study was commissioned by Skin Analytics, which specialises in AI-driven skin cancer detection and works with 27 NHS trusts across the UK.
Neil Daly, founder and CEO of the healthtech company, said: “The real danger comes not from technology, but from waiting months for answers while cancer can progress.
“Too many patients are delaying or avoiding care altogether because they don’t believe they will get seen.
“AI tools show that regulated technology can safely reduce that risk – giving patients timely answers and freeing up doctors’ time to focus where it matters most.
“The NHS now has a duty to use proven innovation to protect patients.”
The study also found 92 per cent of those polled said speed is vital, and 71 per cent believe regulated AI could help reduce NHS wait times.
With 73 per cent of the belief the NHS has a duty of care to deploy technologies that are proven to improve outcomes for patients.
The fact that AI won’t suffer from tiredness as a human would (24 per cent) and is more cost effective (21 per cent) were also among the benefits cited.
But the research, conducted by OnePoll, highlighted some of the perceived limitations of AI being used in medical settings – the most prominent being a lack of empathy (27 per cent).
Followed by a lack of accountability if something goes wrong (24 per cent) and the reliance on the tech meaning a reduction in human skills (17 per cent).
However, trust in AI soars when endorsed by doctors or shown to outperform clinicians, with 36 per cent believing that regulated AI will eventually be better at giving medical assessments than human doctors.
Lynsey Robertson, a GP practice manager, had ignored a mole for years because she did not want to “waste a doctor’s time” – until the AI flagged it as melanoma.
She said: “I’d always put it off, assuming it was nothing. When the AI flagged it and I got a quick diagnosis, I was shocked at how serious it was. Without it, I might still be waiting – or not have gone at all.”
Dr Saleem Taibjee, consultant dermatologist and clinical lead at Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Skin cancer is now the most common cancer in England, making up more than one in five urgent cancer referrals, and pressure on services means many patients are waiting longer than they should have to, or delaying seeking help.
“By helping dermatologists triage referrals quickly and accurately, AI helps us prioritise cases like these and reduce delays.
“AI will not completely replace clinical expertise, but it is becoming an essential tool to help us manage rising demand, reduce backlogs, and ensure patients like Lynsey get the right care at the right time.”
Neil Daly, from Skin Analytics, which has seen its skin cancer detection system, DERM, became the world’s first AI legally authorised to detect cancer in patients without a doctor present, added: “What this research shows is that while not everyone fully grasps the risks of delay, people increasingly see the potential for safe, regulated AI to protect patients.
“Concerns about empathy and accountability are valid, but AI is never about replacing doctors – it’s about supporting them to deliver better, faster care.”
Cancer screenings in England
CATCHING cancer early gives you the best chance of survival, and a huge part of that is attending regular screenings.
NHS programmes can help diagnose the disease, or your risk of it, and improve the likelihood of successful treatment.
There are three national screening programmes in England: cervical screening, breast screening and bowel screening.
“If you are eligible, please make every effort to have your screening test as they can detect a problem early, before you have any symptoms. ,” the NHS says.
“Finding out about a problem early can mean that treatment is more effective.”
Cervical screening
This is offered in England to people with a cervix aged 25 to 64 and is routinely carried out every three years up to the age of 49, and every five from 50 to 64.
Depending on the result, people may be recalled earlier.
During a cervical screening, samples are tested for high risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which causes nearly all cervical cancers.
Those that test positive are then analysed further.
Breast screening
Breast screenings, which involve an X-ray test called a mammogram that can spot cancers when they are too small to see or feel, are usually offered to women aged 50 to 71 in England.
But the NHS is trialling them for women under 50 if they have a high risk of developing breast cancer.
Bowel screening
This test detects whether patients are showing any early signs of cancer.
It is available to everyone aged 50 to 74, with at-home kits automatically sent out every two years, so make sure your GP has your correct address.
The test involves providing a small poo sample to be checked for tiny amounts of blood, which could be caused by cancer.
If you’re 75 or over, you can ask for a kit every two years by phoning the free bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 60 60.
Source: NHS
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