Researchers at the University of Nottingham have developed a simple online tool for doctors to quickly and easily diagnose those patients likely to be suffering from pancreatic and colorectal cancer. The results, due to be published next month, used data from almost 600 GP surgeries to develop an algorithm which can predict which patients were likely to have the diseases.
More than 8000 people in the UK are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, of whom 
almost 75% of patients die within a year of diagnosis. A further 16,500 patients die annually in the UK from colorectal cancer, the second most common cause of cancer deaths in Europe. Those patients suffering from bowel cancer who are diagnosed early have a much higher survival with up to 90% of patients surviving for more than five years.
The new diagnostic calculator would log and cross-reference risk factors and ‘red flag’ symptoms such as abdominal pain, weight loss and rectal bleeding. Once the risks and symptoms are calculated it will “…help GPs with the difficult task of identifying patients with suspected cancer earlier..” according to lead researcher, Professor Julia Hippisley-Cox.
For further information on simple screening for bowel cancer and the NHS bowel cancer screening programme please click here.
