On-line calculator tells cancer risk
Tuesday November 1st, 2011
A simple computer-based algorithm can help GPs spot patients at high risk of cancer at an early stage, researchers said last night.
Patients
can even fill in the on-line questionnaire themselves.
The software has been developed by researchers at Nottingham University.
The analysis of its effectiveness looked at the ten per cent of patients predicted as being most at risk of developing lung cancer or gastro-oesophageal cancer in the next two years.
This showed that it successfully accounted for 77 per cent of these diagnoses in two years.
The research involved some 375 general practices and involved patients up to the age of 84 who had not previously been seen with serious symptoms - such as coughing up blood.
Developer Professor Julia Hippisley-Cox said: "Earlier diagnosis of cancer is a major challenge and we hope this new research will help doctors identify patients for earlier referral and investigation."
The chair of the Royal College of GPs Dr Clare Gerada 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."
The calculators can be found at http://www.qcancer.org/lung and http://www.qcancer.org/gastro-oesophageal.
British Journal of General Practice November 1 2011
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