HALF of myeloma patients in Scotland have been left with “life-altering” conditions such as spinal fractures and kidney failure due to delayed diagnosis, a charity has found.

Myeloma UK’s report, A Life Worth Living, found half of patients received a late diagnosis.

And 49% of patients living with the incurable blood cancer suffered a high impact on their quality of life because of missed diagnosis, while 34% experienced debilitating spinal fractures.

The charity is now calling on the Scottish Government to make ­quality of life a key part of the upcoming ­cancer strategy.

Shelagh McKinlay, the ­charity’s acting director of research and ­patient advisory, said the delays caused ­“irreversible” damage.

About 457 people in Scotland are diagnosed with myeloma, which ­occurs in the bone marrow, every year and delayed diagnosis is more likely in younger patients.

While it is one of the ­hardest ­cancers to diagnose, there are ­currently no targets or time frames for myeloma to be caught early or within a ­reasonable amount of time, according to the charity.

McKinlay said: “The quality of life of people living with myeloma has never been more important, with ­advances in treatment meaning that patients are able to live longer than ever before.

“Delayed diagnosis is well known to increase the likelihood that ­patients will experience two or more serious complications.

“Yet, there are still no specific ­diagnosis targets to make sure the disease is caught and treated in time and to tackle unacceptable and truly harmful delays.

“This is doubly unfair since we know outcomes for myeloma are ­already so poor.

“Whether through severe and chronic pain, spinal fractures, ­kidney damage and other ­complications, ­myeloma patients are being ­condemned to a life of limitations because they were diagnosed far too late.

“With a cancer strategy on the horizon, now is the time to put quality of life at the heart of Government policy.

“The Scottish Government urgently needs to develop targets that improve patients’ experience and put the day-to-day lives of people with myeloma front and centre across research, ­policy development, commissioning, and clinical practice.

“We cannot and will not allow ­people’s lives to be diminished by avoidable delays in diagnosis.”

Sarah Barron, from Falkirk, had experienced debilitating lower back pain for over six weeks in July 2020, she felt something snap in her back.

A fluid-filled tumour had crushed one of her vertebrae and Sarah was subsequently diagnosed with the blood disease and began ­radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Her first stem cell transplant was ­received successfully in July 2021, however, her second was met with ­delays because of the pandemic. ­Doctors told Sarah she should ­receive a second stem cell transplant six months after her first but it was ­cancelled due to staff shortages and hospital pressure.

Speaking of the disappointment, she said: “I can’t think about the second stem cell transplant ­because there’s nothing I can do about

the fact that you’ve lost that ­opportunity.”

Now keen to help Myeloma UK raise awareness of the impact delays in diagnosis can have on patients’ quality of life, Sarah said there is a lack of standards with the cancer.

She said: “Myeloma is not one of the big cancers, like breast cancer, but people should be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible.

“I really want to help Myeloma UK. I feel that the work they do is really important and they’re really saving people’s lives.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The NHS remains ­under sustained pressure as a result of Covid-19, with the number of people awaiting diagnostic tests now at the highest level since 2018, and we are working tirelessly with health boards to provide vital services.

“Our stakeholders, like ­Myeloma UK, will be key in our ­engagement process to develop the next ­cancer strategy and early diagnosis ­vision. Preparations for our public ­consultation are currently under way and will be live shortly.”