Payments made to cancer sufferers are being seen as the tip of the iceberg

A Herald investigation has revealed ACC paid out 15 million dollars over the last five years to patients who were misdiagnosed or not diagnosed quickly enough.

Many of those had terminal bowel cancer.

Bowel Cancer spokeswoman Mary Bradley told Kerre McIvor there's a lack of resource and investment into that type of cancer.

She says GPs aren't necessarily as aware of the symptoms as they need to be.

Bradley says they also aren't putting all the information they need to onto the referral forms for the specialist.