I am encouraged by the figures (The Herald, November 27) regarding waiting times for cancer patients. In my experience, the greatest delays in the system are twofold. First, from the time I send an urgent referral letter to a consultant regarding a patient with a high-risk history or examination findings to raise the suspicion of a cancer, there is commonly an unacceptable delay. However, the wait varies greatly depending on the possible site of the suspected malignancy. Areas such as the breast and haematological cancers are seen quickly, either through better funding or low prevalence. Common sites such as bowel or lung wait much longer, hence the poorer prognosis.

Secondly, the most distressing element of delay is when a patient has been diagnosed with a cancer but awaits staging of their condition; ie, has it spread outwith the organ of primary involvement? Patients wait many weeks or months to get a CT or MRI scan to establish this. Meanwhile, they drop off waiting lists but are having no treatment. Tinkering with the figures changes nothing for the individual living in limbo.

Dr Robert McGonigle, The Health Centre, Dumbarton.