Cancer Keys
Bowel cancer in young adults and the use of a Bowel Symptoms Diary
25th April 2022 Bowel cancer cases are increasing in adults aged under 50 in England, according to The British Journal of Surgery. Even though incidences of bowel cancer cases are lower in this age group than older populations, the incidence is still significantly...
Is lung cancer in never-smokers a hidden disease?
18th March 2022 Each year, in the UK, it is estimated that nearly 6,000 never-smokers die of lung cancer. This is more than those who die of cervical cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, leukaemia, or ovarian cancer. If a patient has persistent chest symptoms longer than 3...
Myeloma investigations
18th March 2022 The following tests are relevant when investigating suspected myeloma: Full blood count to look for anaemia or leukopenia Renal profile to look for renal dysfunction Bone profile to look for evidence of hypercalcaemia, plasma viscosity or ESR to look...
Raised CA125 – what is the next step for primary care?
10th March 2022 If a patient is sent for an CA125 test and the results show a raised level of 35 IU/ml or greater, an urgent transabdominal/transvaginal ultrasound should be arranged within two weeks. Arranging a transvaginal ultrasound is the gold standard, but this...
What is the difference between squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma in oesophageal cancer?
24th February 2022 There are two common histological types of oesophageal cancer called squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. These two types of oesophageal cancer make up most cancer cases, however, there are rarer types of oesophageal cancer that also exist...
Soft tissue lumps – when should primary care be concerned?
16th February 2022 Symptoms of soft tissue sarcomas can vary depending on the size and location of the tumour. Patients may experience all, some, or none of the below features of a lump: Increasing in size Is larger than 5cm Usually painful, but not always Concerning...
Thrombocytosis and cancer
11th February 2022 The British Journal of General Practice suggests thrombocytosis is a risk marker of cancer in adults and is worthy of further investigation. Lung and colorectal cancer were the most commonly diagnosed cancers. There is a stronger association between...
Headache: symptom of a brain tumour?
26th January 2022 Headaches alone are a very uncommon presentation of brain tumours, with only 7% of brain tumour patients presenting with just a headache. However, most patients will experience them at some point in their brain tumour journey. Headaches that are...
HPV: What are the common myths?
20th January 2022 Lots of women have never heard of human papillomavirus (HPV), for many the first time they hear about HPV is upon their diagnosis after receiving smear test results. A HPV diagnosis can often carry psychological symptoms such as fear, guilt, shame,...