Linda Nolan and Bill Turnbull are among the celebrities with cancer who have joined NHS doctors in urging the public to come forward for important checks.  The call comes after concerns were raised that people have delayed seeking help due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Nearly half of the public have said they had concerns about seeking help in the midst of the outbreak, while one in 10 said they would not contact their GP even if they had a lump or a new mole.

Hospitals have put in extensive measures so patients can get safely tested and treated, and if there is care or a treatment you need, don’t delay, and contact your GP or NHS 111 to ask about any symptoms.

Cancer doesn’t wait, and timing is everything. It might be the very thing that makes all the difference.

There has been a sharp drop in the number of people coming forward for cancer checks, with 141,643 referred in June compared with almost 200,000 during the same period last year.

Cancer is a cruel disease and unfortunately, it did not disappear during the coronavirus outbreak.

While coronavirus is the new big C in everyone’s lives, it doesn’t stop cancer killing people too. It’s still a threat and not just for those who are already diagnosed – you must check yourself for symptoms.

Professor Peter Johnson, NHS clinical director for cancer, said that waiting to get help can have serious health consequences now and in the future.

He said: “We cannot let COVID become a reason for people not to get checked for cancer – NHS staff up and down the country have worked very hard to make sure that tests and treatment can go ahead quickly and safely. Cancers are detected earlier and lives are saved if more people are referred for checks, so our message to you is to come forward – it could save your life.”

Be clear on cancer - If you think there’s something wrong and it might be melanoma, please go to your GP. Help the NHS to help you get the care you need, we are here to help.