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People are putting off getting potential cancer symptoms checked because of a lack of GP appointments or believing their issue may not be serious, according to a poll. Cancer Research UK surveyed 6,844 people via YouGov in the UK to understand what prevented people getting help the last time they spotted something that could have been a sign of cancer.

The top reasons were thinking it would be difficult to get an appointment (cited by 53% of people), finding it difficult to get an appointment (47%), not thinking the symptom would be anything serious (44%) and deciding they could manage the symptom themselves (43%). Some 43% said they found it difficult to get an appointment with a particular healthcare professional while 40% did not want to be seen as making a fuss.

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