Potential pitfall: A migraine headache is typically a unilateral, frontal, throbbing headache which may be associated with photophobia or phonophobia. Although the intensity can vary, the characteristics of the headache tend not to change. Helpful hint: The most...
Friday 21st August 2020 Did you miss our free webinar on Suspected Cancer Referrals and COVID-19? Watch it here. Miss Susannah Penney, Consultant Head, Neck and Thyroid Surgeon, receives over 2000 cancer referrals a year. When making a suspected cancer referral, are...
False negative chest X-rays The main investigation for suspected lung cancer in primary care is a chest X-ray. However, reports show that some patients with normal chest X-rays still transpire to have lung cancer. Potential pitfall Although most large lung cancers can...
Sudden onset diabetes Symptoms of pancreatic cancer can often be vague; however sudden onset diabetes can be a potential indicator of the disease. Potential pitfall Diabetes, especially Type 2, is common among the general population. However, consideration should be...
If you are suspicious of myeloma following blood results, there are two pertinent investigations that can be ordered in primary care to give a strong case for referral:
1. Serum protein electrophoresis test
2. Bence-Jones protein urine test
If you test for serum protein electrophoresis alone, you will identify only 2/3 of patients.
Most patients with untreated myeloma have a monoclonal immunoglobulin peak in serum, urine, or both. A combination of serum protein electrophoresis and Bence-Jones protein urine test will diagnose up to 95% of patients with myeloma without any form of imaging. NICE NG12 guidelines suggest making a suspected cancer referral for patients whose investigation results indicate myeloma.
Download this Cancer Key here.
Access GatewayC’s Myeloma – Early Diagnosis course.
Potential pitfall: A migraine headache is typically a unilateral, frontal, throbbing headache which may be associated with photophobia or phonophobia. Although the intensity can vary, the characteristics of the headache tend not to change. Helpful hint: The most...
Friday 21st August 2020 Did you miss our free webinar on Suspected Cancer Referrals and COVID-19? Watch it here. Miss Susannah Penney, Consultant Head, Neck and Thyroid Surgeon, receives over 2000 cancer referrals a year. When making a suspected cancer referral, are...
False negative chest X-rays The main investigation for suspected lung cancer in primary care is a chest X-ray. However, reports show that some patients with normal chest X-rays still transpire to have lung cancer. Potential pitfall Although most large lung cancers can...
Sudden onset diabetes Symptoms of pancreatic cancer can often be vague; however sudden onset diabetes can be a potential indicator of the disease. Potential pitfall Diabetes, especially Type 2, is common among the general population. However, consideration should be...