This is the Guardian. Today as King Charles receives treatment for cancer, why do more than a third of cancer patients in the UK face deadly delays? you're I put a few of the initial bowel cancer symptoms down to just having a vegan diet, you know, things that need to go to toilet more often, but of

I've dealt with all pain.

Nathaniel Die is a teacher and a musician. He felt the first signs

about two years ago.

I remember in March 2022, approximately just having such extreme ways of pain,

I thought I might have appendicitis.

I called a GP and got an appointment and they just told me I probably was

constipated and then it was up to about September when I had all of the red flag

warning signs but it took me a good number of months to eventually put my hand up.

Not long ago the UK was one of the best countries in the world dealing with cancer.

It still has excellent passionate doctors and nurses.

The trouble is how long it takes to get an appointment to see them,

to get a diagnosis, to start treatment.

The maximum recommended time is 62 days. Nathaniel had to wait more than 100,

and every single day matters.

I have now stage 4 incurable bowel cancer. It's spread to my liver, my lungs, my lip

flow to my neck and on average 10% of people survive five years. From the Guardian I'm Michael Safi.

Today in focus, the cost of delays in cancer care in the UK. Nathaniel when you say you put your hand up what do you mean is that when you went to

the doctor and said to them you know I think something is seriously wrong here.

Yes, that was talking to the GP on the 30 September when I got back from holiday.

I remember being reassured that I'm 37, or so I was 37 at the time far too young to have cancer but it could be something

we'll give your blood test just in case and over the course the next few months things gradually escalated.

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