UK cancer care threatened by government incompetence

On Oct 6, 2020, in response to questions in Parliament regarding cancer outcomes during COVID-19, the UK Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, stated the "best way to keep cancer services running is to suppress [coronavirus]". We beg to differ. The notion that cancer care provision should be contingent on the success of policies to contain COVID-19 is as offensive as it is irresponsible. Cancer care cannot be put on hold; cancer care during the pandemic should not be beyond the capacity of the UK's ostensibly world-class health system; and patients with suspected or prevalent cancer must not be denied timely access to care.