How we can diagnose cancer earlier?

I chaired a roundtable event run by Cancer Research UK and the Royal College of GPs during the Lib Dem Liverpool conference titled ‘Time is of the essence: diagnosing cancer earlier’. We were joined by a variety of stakeholders from the health community, including the BMA, Liverpool PCT, Merseyside and Cheshire Cancer Network as well as Councillor Ron Gould, Liberal Democrat Opposition Spokesperson for Adult Social Care and Health in Liverpool. The question on the table was a complex one: how we can diagnose cancer earlier?

Each year around 298,000 people are diagnosed with cancer and over two million people have been cured or are living with the disease in the UK. We know that cancer survival rates lag behind the best performing countries in Europe, so it is possible to do better. Experts such as Cancer Research UK believe that one of the key reasons why this occurs is because cancer is too often diagnosed at a late stage. Hence, by prioritising diagnosing and treating cancer earlier, outcomes for patients can be improved.

So how do we do this?

Firstly, Cancer Research UK argues that we need to inform individuals so that they can recognise the signs and symptoms of cancer. But it is not just about educating individuals, it is about encouraging and empowering them to see their doctor if they do notice any of the possible warning signs, or other changes that are unusual for them.

Liberal Democrat MP for Sutton and Cheam and Minister of State for Care Services, Paul Burstow, recently announced 59 local projects across England that will be promoting earlier diagnosis of breast, bowel and/or lung cancer, and two regional pilots of a bowel cancer signs and symptoms campaign. The activity, most of which will begin next year, seeks to raise awareness of what to look out for, and encourage people to see their doctor earlier than they may have done otherwise in the event of an unusual or persistent change. As well as activity directed towards the public, the projects will also engage with clinical colleagues, principally those in primary care.

There are over 200 different types of cancer and GPs may only see 8-9 cases a year. Thus GPs need to have the information and tools that will support them in knowing who and when to refer for investigation or specialist opinion. There also need to be the right policy levers, services and pathways in place to ensure the cancer diagnosis pathway is as streamlined and smooth as possible.

Practice profiles for every GP practice in England have recently been launched. Available to NHS staff, they provide practice-based information relevant to cancer in primary care. National analyses of primary care audit data are also expected soon. Both of these sources will be invaluable in engaging GPs, providing insight into delays in diagnosis and highlighting areas for improvement.

An update of the Cancer Reform Strategy, a plan for how cancer services are organised across England, is currently being developed. It is likely that awareness and early diagnosis will form a crucial part of it and to really tackle our cancer outcomes it is important that we continue to champion early diagnosis.

For more information about signs and symptoms, take a look at www.spotcancerearly.com.