Coronavirus: Father dies from cancer after surgery delayed – as expert warns of ‘surge’ in new cancer cases

A father of four who died after his cancer surgery was postponed due to the pandemic had the chance to spend more time with his family “snapped away from him”, his daughter has said.

Pete Sharp, 60, was diagnosed with lung cancer in January and was due to have surgery.

But the day before his operation, he was told it would have to be cancelled as the intensive care bed he would need for recovery was being used to treat COVID-19 patients.

He died on 27 April.

There are fears the coronavirus pandemic could result in a crisis for cancer patients, as many are facing delayed treatments and fewer cancers are being diagnosed.

Figures released by NHS England today show urgent referrals by GPs for suspected cancer cases in March dropped by 8% on the same month in 2019.

Urgent breast cancer referrals showed a bigger drop, falling by 28%.

Professor Karol Sikora, a former World Health Organisation director, told Sky News the drop in referrals will “come back to haunt us”.

Although NHS figures show there has not been a significant increase in waiting times for cancer treatment in March, Professor Sikora said the figures appeared better because the referral rate has slowed significantly.

“There will be a surge of new cancer patients when we get started again,” he warned.

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There is also the concern that those who have already received a diagnosis could have their treatments affected.

Mr Sharp’s daughter, Tayler, 23, said the surgery scheduled for 30 March may have given her father more time with his family.

“It was hard for him, he hid it very well but I knew he was heartbroken,” she said.

“Obviously it really annoyed him but I explained that they weren’t doing it to be horrible, they were doing it because they wanted him to come out the other side of the operation.”

She added: “He had been given a 98% chance of pulling through the operation and living for however long, and it was just snapped away from him just like that because of coronavirus.”

Mr Sharp, whose cancer had reached stage four and spread to his lymph nodes, celebrated his 60th birthday on 26 February with Tayler, his two other daughters Elisha, 31, and Hayleigh, 40, as well as his son PJ, 27.

He was described as “a bit of a joker” who “loved to play pranks” and was “always ready to put people before himself”.

Miss Sharp said her father would be happy he did not spend time in pain, adding: “A part of me is like this was probably the best time for Dad and he would want to go being happy and the best that he can.”

Another cancer patient whose treatment has been paused due to coronavirus is single mother Daloni Carlisle.

She told Sky News that although she was pleased with the treatment she had received with the NHS so far, she needs chemotherapy and doesn’t know when it will happen.

“I have cancer in my lungs, in my liver, in my spine. It’s all progressing,” she said.

“I’m a single mum with teenage children. The cancer I have is not curable and I need to stay alive.”

Cancer charities and experts have warned that cancer patients should not be left behind during the pandemic.

Lynda Thomas, chief executive of Macmillan Cancer Support, told Sky News: “Cancer hasn’t gone away in this pandemic but it’s become the slightly forgotten C.”

(c) Sky News 2020: Coronavirus: Father dies from cancer after surgery delayed – as expert warns of ‘surge’ in new cancer cases