Wednesday 13th May 2020 In times of uncertainty safety netting is an important part of the primary care consultation and referral process. When followed correctly, safety netting can help ensure patients are monitored appropriately and follow-ups take place where...
Thursday 7th May 2020 Discussing suspected cancer symptoms over the phone can be challenging. To navigate this, we have created a downloadable PDF resource for primary care teams, in partnership with The Maguire Communication Skills Training Unit. This resource covers...
Thursday 12th December 2019 The National Cancer Diagnosis Audit found that 34% of stomach cancer diagnoses had avoidable delays. This course is developed with and for primary care professionals to look at the different ways to assess and manage a patient's potential...
Friday 8th November 2019 A consultation has been launched into a NICE guideline that currently recommends x-rays for suspected lung cancer cases. Recent research by the British Journal of General Practice reaffirms a 2006 study in finding that the sensitivity of chest...
GatewayC’s colorectal cancer course introduces Simon, a patient experiencing abdominal cramps and diarrhoea, who is only 38 years old. Should he be considered as at risk? GatewayC’s Cancer Lead GP, Dr. Sarah Taylor, discusses the significance of age in a bowel cancer diagnosis with Mr. Malcolm Wilson, Colorectal Oncology Surgeon at The Christie.
Bowel cancer is more common in older people. Almost 6 in 10 bowel cancer cases in the UK each year are diagnosed in people aged 70 or over.
Having said this, bowel cancer risk is increased if a patient has a first degree relative diagnosed with bowel cancer. A first degree relative is a parent, brother or sister, son or daughter. The risk is increased further if a patient has more than one relative diagnosed with bowel cancer or a patient has a first degree relative diagnosed at a young age, for example, under the age of 45 years old.*
The age of the patient can lead symptoms to be dismissed because colorectal cancer is not common in younger patients. Asking about a positive family history of cancer can help to clarify a patient’s risk factor.
Find out more: visit the GatewayC Colorectal Cancer – Early Diagnosis course here.
* Information from Cancer Research UK – bowel cancer risks and causes. See link here.