The two 'Big C's': Colorectal cancer diagnosis during the COVID-19 pandemic

Cancer is a leading cause of death in the UK. Public health approaches to cancer control are framed around cancer risk, and individual responsibility to manage these risks. Recently a new 'big C' risk has emerged - COVID-19 - which, overnight, changed the way people engage with health services. Cancer diagnostic tests and treatments have been suspended or postponed. 75% fewer people are currently awaiting help for suspected cancer symptoms, with many unwilling to attend for investigation, and 18,000 excess cancer deaths are expected in the next year. Endoscopy services, through which most colorectal cancers are diagnosed, are currently at 5% of pre-pandemic provision. This interview study will seek to understand how changes in service provision and shifting social concepts of cancer/COVID-19 risk have shaped patients' experiences of a colorectal cancer diagnosis amidst the pandemic and identify what needs to, and can be, done to support these, and future, patients.