Hundreds of individuals are feared to be unaware they're residing with incurable blood cancer after a drop in diagnoses in the course of the pandemic.

Charity Myeloma UK sounded the alarm after 851 fewer circumstances than anticipated had been detected within the two years to February 2022.

Myeloma is a troublesome most cancers to identify resulting from imprecise signs. One in three sufferers visits their GP a minimum of 3 times earlier than a analysis.

As Myeloma Awareness Week begins right now, the general public has been urged to concentrate on indicators together with again ache, simply damaged bones, fatigue and recurrent infections.

The charity’s chief govt, Sophie Castell, stated: “We know that during the pandemic fewer people were diagnosed with myeloma than expected.

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“This means that around 851 people could be unaware that they are living with blood cancer.

“It might take more than one appointment for your doctor to put the pieces of the puzzle together. So please keep pushing or ask for a second opinion. Together we’ll find the missing 851.”

Ms Castell added: “The most important thing people can do is rule themselves out by checking their symptoms and, if anything isn’t right, go see their GP.”

Myeloma is a uncommon incurable most cancers which happens within the bone marrow and impacts 24,000 individuals within the United Kingdom.

A complete of 8,797 circumstances had been recognized in England between March 2020 and February 2022.

This was 851 fewer circumstances than would have been anticipated, primarily based on the determine for 2019.

The situation can also be generally often known as a number of myeloma because it typically impacts a number of areas of the physique such because the backbone, cranium, pelvis and ribs.

One in 4 sufferers waits greater than 10 months for a analysis and the illness claims 3,000 lives a yr. It can normally be detected with a ­easy blood take a look at and coverings ­can ease signs and enhance sufferers’ high quality of life.

Despite myeloma being incurable, round a 3rd of victims survive ­a minimum of 10 years.

It is extra widespread amongst over-60s, males, black individuals and people with a household historical past of the illness.