GPs miss 2,000 bowel cancer tumours each year

Research has suggested that typical ‘red flag’ symptoms of bowel cancer, such as abdominal pain and weight loss, are being routinely missed by GPs, and that at least 2,000 patients whose conditions are diagnosed in A&E every year could have been picked up earlier.

The study, which was carried out by Cancer Research UK and University College London, also found that women were much more likely than men to have a delay in diagnosis, possibly due to their symptoms being confused with the menopause.

Bowel cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer and the UK has one of the worst survival rates in Western Europe, blamed in part on warning signs being missed by GPs. When the illness is picked up in A&E, patients are much less likely to survive, as by that stage their tumours are often advanced and extremely difficult to treat.

Dr Cristina Renzi, disease specialist at University College London, said “We know that patients diagnosed with cancer after emergency presentations don’t do as well as patients who are diagnosed by their doctor through non-emergency routes.

“This study highlights the need to support GPs and give them the tools to diagnose and refer patients promptly when they feel it’s necessary.”

Health watchdog NICE last year provided GPs with a comprehensive guide to spotting the signs of cancer, prompted by concerns over the number of cases that were being missed.

However, there is some evidence to suggest that practice managers are refusing to allow patients to be referred for scans and x-rays over cost concerns. A survey earlier this year of 500 GPs found that a third of those surveyed had attempted to refer patients, but had been ‘blocked’.

The Beating Bowel Cancer charity’s Mark Flannagan, said “If your GP does not initially refer you but your symptoms continue for three weeks or more, go back and ask for a referral for further tests.

“It’s important to find out if it could be something more serious so be persistent – it could save your life.”

The Royal College of GPs Dr Richard Roope, said “Bowel cancer can be difficult to diagnose in primary care, particularly as many of its symptoms can be quite vague and could also indicate more common conditions.

“Nevertheless, GPs are doing a good job of appropriately referring our patients that we suspect of having cancer – 75 per cent of patients found to have cancer are referred after only one or two GP consultations.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Paralegal, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (karenmotley@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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