The number of "invisible" cancers that are difficult to detect has risen sharply in recent years

A Medical Blunder with Serious Consequences

In the healthcare journey, there is a distressing reality: diagnostic odyssey. Patients consult various specialists, suffer from real symptoms, yet remain without answers to their ailments. This situation is particularly common for people with so-called “invisible” cancers. According to experts at the nonprofit organization Neuroendocrine Cancer UK (NCUK), this issue specifically affects neuroendocrine cancer. This group of cancers, which develops in nerve and glandular cells, now requires an urgent acceleration of diagnostic processes, as reported by the British daily The Independent.

Rising Statistics and Alarming Delays

Data reported by NCUK reveal a significant increase in the incidence of this disease in England. Between 1995 and 2018, the number of cases surged by 371%, a rise far greater than that observed for other cancers, which stood at 116% over the same period (excluding non-melanoma skin cancers). Today, this disease affects more than 6,000 people each year in the UK.

Despite this increased prevalence, detection remains challenging. The charity reports that the average time to diagnosis is four and a half years. The figures highlight the complexity of the task facing the medical community: nearly half of patients are not diagnosed during their first visit. Even more striking, 16% of patients must make more than ten visits to the doctor before the disease is identified. The direct consequence of these delays is that more than half of cases are detected at an already advanced stage.

Misleading Symptoms and Common Confusions

Neuroendocrine cancer is divided into two main categories: neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs), the latter of which are characterized by rapid growth. These diseases can occur in various parts of the body, including the stomach, intestines, pancreas, or lungs.

The difficulty in diagnosis often lies in the nature of the symptoms, which can be mistaken for other common conditions. Patients report unexplained weight loss, fatigue, pain, and digestive issues such as diarrhea, bloating, flatulence, and heartburn. Skin rashes, a persistent cough, or asthma-like symptoms are also observed. According to specialists, these signs frequently lead to misdiagnoses, with the disease being mistaken for irritable bowel syndrome, asthma, or even menopausal symptoms.

A Disease That Defies Conventional Expectations

Lisa Walker, Executive Director of the NCUK, highlights a major challenge: this disease does not fit the traditional image of cancer. She explains that this type of cancer does not behave like the more well-known forms of the disease. Unlike other forms of the disease, where the outcome often swings between remission and rapid decline, neuroendocrine cancer often forces patients to live with the disease for many years.

This period of uncertainty creates a sense of confusion, particularly when test results come back normal while symptoms remain debilitating. For the CEO, these errors and delays can cause serious and lasting harm. The time lost allows the cancer to spread in the absence of adequate treatment, underscoring the crucial importance of better recognition of these atypical symptoms.

Source: slate.fr

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The number of "invisible" cancers that are difficult to detect has risen sharply in recent years