Computer-based tool to improve diagnosis of lung and stomach
cancer
07/11/11
A computer-based tool could help GPs to speed
up the diagnosis and treatment of patients suffering from two of
the most common forms of cancer, suggests a study published in the
November issue of the British Journal of General Practice
(BJGP).
Researchers at The University of Nottingham, led by Professor
Julia Hippisley-Cox and Dr Carol Coupland, developed an algorithm
to determine the risk of individual patients having or developing
lung, stomach or oesophageal cancer in the next two years.
The algorithm predicted 10 per cent of the patients involved as
most at risk of developing one of the two diseases. The patients
identified accounted for 77 per cent of all the gastro-oesophageal
and lung cancers diagnosed over the following two years. Applied in
the form of a web calculator, the algorithm has the potential to
save thousands of lives every year by enabling earlier
diagnosis.
More information about the study is available on the
University of Nottingham website.
Dr Clare Gerada, Chair of the Royal College of General
Practitioners that publishes the BJGP, said: “The University of
Nottingham studies will create great excitement for those of us
working in primary care. Early diagnosis has a huge impact on the
treatment and survivorship of patients with lung and
stomach-related cancers. Incorporating this simple calculation into
the consultation could give GPs a two-year headstart on
investigation and treatment, with the potential to save thousands
of lives.
“This is exactly the sort of research that the British Journal
of General Practice was set up to highlight — practical measures
that GPs can take to improve the care they give to their patients.
The publication of these vitally important studies by Professor
Julia Hippisley-Cox, Dr Carol Coupland and their colleagues could
prove a defining moment for cancer diagnosis. I hope the Department
of Health and others will take heed.”
Also in the November issue:
- Better home ventilation helps children with asthma, researchers
in Wales have shown. When tailored improvements designed to improve
ventilation are made to the homes of children with asthma, their
physical functioning and quality of life are improved. There is
also a trend towards a reduction in absence from school, and health
economic analysis suggests that this intervention is likely to be
cost-effective.
- Cancer experts from Macmillan Cancer Support discuss the
implications for patients and their GPs of improving cancer
survival rates. Increasing numbers of cancer survivors will require
extra care from GPs, as a result of earlier diagnosis and improved
treatments. More than 50 per cent of cancer patients will now
survive for more than 5 years, doubling the number of cancer
survivors in the UK from 2 million to 4 million in the next 20
years.
ENDS
Further information
RCGP Press office: 020 3188 7576/7575/7574
Out of hours Duty Press Officer: 020 3188 7659
press@rcgp.org.uk
Notes to editors
The BJGP is the leading journal of
family medicine in Europe and is distributed free of charge every
month to over 42,000 GPs.
Although it is published by the RCGP, it has complete editorial
independence. Opinions expressed in the BJGP should not be taken to
represent the policy of the RCGP unless this is specifically
stated.
The Royal College of General Practitioners is a network of more
than 44,000 family doctors working to improve care for patients. We
work to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general
medical practice and act as the voice of GPs on education,
training, research and clinical standards.