Sarah Harding's death puts cancer care in the spotlight


We're all aware of the pressure that the NHS has been under over the last two years. As a consequence, other areas of primary and secondary care have been overlooked by both patients and the healthcare system. 

Sarah Harding’s death pushed this reality into the limelight. Last weekend, the Girls Aloud star died aged 39 of breast cancer. In her autobiography, Hear Me Out, she wrote about how she put off getting medical advice when she found lumps under her arm in 2019. And, when she eventually went to see a doctor her care with put into ‘slow motion or stopped altogether.’

This delayed care was caused by Sarah’s own reticence to visit the hospital setting and the immediate diversion of the healthcare system's attention towards dealing with the coronavirus. Although it has taken someone we all know to bring the catastrophic effects of the pandemic to our attention, it’s been a devastating consequence for many people affected by cancer. 

In October 2020, Macmillan Cancer Support published a report called The Forgotten C: The Impact of Covid-19 on Cancer Care. It spotlights the impact of the pandemic on the lives of those diagnosed with cancer.

Macmillan estimated that 50,000 people were living with undiagnosed cancer at the time of publication. The report puts this down to fewer people visiting their GP to the slowing of secondary care treatment. Both of these things have caused the huge backlog in cancer care that we are experiencing today. 

A study published by Cancer Research UK also highlights the fear of the urgent care setting as a reason for the lack of cancer diagnoses in the first wave of the pandemic. In fact, researchers found that 45% of those with potential cancer symptoms did not contact their doctor during the UK's first wave of the pandemic. 

This reticence is one of the key reasons for loss of life when it comes to breast cancer. That's because it delays the time between detection and treatment which allows for cancer to develop. This makes it harder for the disease to be managed and treated. 

It’s thought that almost all women diagnosed with breast cancer at its earliest stage will survive the disease for at least 5 years. However, detection can sometimes be difficult. That’s why it is important to stay in touch with your boobs. Look at them and familiarise yourself with the way that they look and change throughout your menstrual cycle, give them a feel every so often to search for anything out of the ordinary, and, if you spy one of the signs below contact your GP immediately. 

Here are 7 signs of breast cancer you should look out for: 

  • A lump or area of thickened breast tissue on your breast or under your armpit
  • A change in the size or shape of one or both breasts
  • Discharge from your nipples that might be showing blood
  • Dimpling on the skin of the breast 
  • A rash on, or around, your nipple
  • A change in the appearance of your nipple

Information contained in this Articles page has been written by talkhealth based on available medical evidence. The content however should never be considered a substitute for medical advice. You should always seek medical advice before changing your treatment routine. talkhealth does not endorse any specific products, brands or treatments.

Information written by the talkhealth team

Last revised: 10 September 2021
Next review: 10 September 2024