Latest news with #pancreaticcancer
The Independent
2 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
GPs to comb patient records to spot early signs of killer disease
The NHS is launching a pilot programme to offer urgent pancreatic cancer tests to at-risk patients. GP practices will identify individuals over 60 with key symptoms like new-onset diabetes or sudden weight loss, using digital health technology to analyse patient records. The initiative aims to improve early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, which is often detected at an advanced stage and is the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths in the UK. Over 300 GP practices across England will participate in the three-year pilot, which has received nearly £2 million in funding. NHS officials say that early detection is crucial for effective treatment and better outcomes for patients. People at high risk of pancreatic cancer to be tested by NHS before symptoms show
The Independent
2 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
People at high risk of pancreatic cancer to be tested by NHS before symptoms show
Urgent pancreatic cancer tests will be offered on the NHS for those who are most at risk. GPs taking part in the NHS pilot will reach out to patients who have the key early warning signs of pancreatic cancer and send them for urgent tests to rule out the illness. People over the age of 60 with key symptoms, such as recently being diagnosed with diabetes or who experience sudden weight loss, could be contacted for urgent blood tests and CT scans. Even patients whose weight is not recorded may be contacted, as a doctor may wish to check for new-onset diabetes or sudden weight loss. New digital health technology will be used to detect pancreatic cancer earlier and help use GP records more effectively to identify people through body weight and blood glucose control measurements. Pancreatic cancer is the fifth most common cause of cancer deaths in the UK, with 10,000 people diagnosed a year - 10 per cent of cases are inherited, and more than half of people die within three months of diagnosis. Around half of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer have also had a recent diabetes diagnosis. Professor Peter Johnson, NHS national clinical director for cancer, urged the need to find new ways of picking up the symptoms as the cancer is 'responsible for so many deaths because patients don't usually notice symptoms until the cancer is at an advanced stage.' 'Through initiatives like this and the upcoming 10 Year Health Plan, the NHS is determined to go a step further – not just treat people at an advanced stage but to go out into communities and seek people out who might be unwell without any symptoms so we can provide people with the most effective treatment. 'The NHS is seeing and treating more people with cancer than ever, and early diagnosis is key to ensure patients have the best chance of receiving effective treatment. 'If your GP practice identifies you as at risk of pancreatic cancer, I urge you to come forward for testing as soon as possible.' More than 300 GP practices across England will begin to use the initiative now, which has received almost £2m in targeted funding, while the rest will have the pilot up and running in the autumn. The scheme will test whether dedicated routine searches of patient records can lead to earlier diagnosis of the disease and better outcomes. Local practices will carry out searches of patient records as part of a three-year pilot using their GP IT systems to identify patients who have the symptoms. The initiative comes after NHS England partnered with Pancreatic Cancer UK last year to launch a first-of-its-kind tool, the Family History Checker, to help identify people with an inherited risk of the disease and refer them for regular monitoring – giving them the very best chance of being diagnosed early. Health minister Karin Smyth welcomed the initiative as someone who has personally faced cancer. 'I know all too well the fear that comes with a diagnosis and the precious value of catching it early,' she said. 'This targeted approach to identify people at risk of one of the most lethal cancers could give more people a fighting chance and spare the heartbreak of countless families. 'Through our Plan for Change, we are utilising the latest technology and techniques to improve cancer outcomes and transform care to give more families hope in the face of this devastating disease.'
The Independent
2 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
GPs to contact patients with key warning signs of pancreatic cancer
The NHS is rolling out a new initiative across GP surgeries in England, aiming to significantly improve the early detection of pancreatic cancer, a disease with the lowest survival rate among all cancers. Hundreds of GPs will receive additional funding to review patient records, focusing on identifying individuals over the age of 60 who exhibit key warning signs. These include a recent diagnosis of diabetes and unexplained sudden weight loss. Figures suggest that approximately half of all pancreatic cancer diagnoses occur in individuals who have recently been diagnosed with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. By proactively identifying these high-risk patients, the NHS hopes to diagnose the deadly disease at an earlier, more treatable stage, ultimately improving patient outcomes. Family doctors taking part in the NHS England pilot will then contact patients and send them for urgent blood tests and CT scans to rule cancer in or out. Pancreatic cancer can have vague symptoms and is often diagnosed in the late stages. According to researchers, newly-diagnosed diabetes patients often have similar symptoms as a person with early-stage pancreatic cancer. This is because the cancer destroys the same insulin-producing cells that are also destroyed in diabetes. Around 10,500 people in the UK are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer every year and only around one in 20 survive the disease for 10 years or more. More than half of people die within three months of diagnosis. For the new three-year pilot, more than 300 GP practices in England will be involved, with all practices up and running by the autumn. Almost £2 million in targeted funding has been invested to help practices find people most at risk and give patients the best chance of being diagnosed early. Professor Peter Johnson, NHS national clinical director for cancer, said: 'Pancreatic cancer is responsible for so many deaths because patients don't usually notice symptoms until the cancer is at an advanced stage, which is why we need to find new ways to pick it up. 'Through initiatives like this and the upcoming 10-year health plan, the NHS is determined to go a step further – not just treat people at an advanced stage but to go out into communities and seek people out who might be unwell without any symptoms so we can provide people with the most effective treatment. 'The NHS is seeing and treating more people with cancer than ever, and early diagnosis is key to ensure patients have the best chance of receiving effective treatment. 'If your GP practice identifies you as at risk of pancreatic cancer, I urge you to come forward for testing as soon as possible.' Health minister Karin Smyth said: 'This targeted approach to identify people at risk of one of the most lethal cancers could give more people a fighting chance and spare the heartbreak of countless families.' Alfie Bailey-Bearfield, head of influencing and health improvement at Pancreatic Cancer UK, said: 'Diagnosing more people with pancreatic cancer earlier, when the disease is most treatable, would make the single biggest difference to improving survival, so we are delighted to see significant further investment from NHS England towards that incredibly important goal. 'We're proud to have been involved in shaping this new case finding pilot, which will support GPs to proactively find people with pancreatic cancer among one of largest groups known to be at increased risk: those aged over 60, with new onset diabetes who have recently lost weight without trying to do so. 'Many of the people who are referred for a CT scan during the pilot will not have pancreatic cancer, but for those that do, the impact could be lifesaving. 'Subject to the pilot's success, we will be calling for this pilot to be expanded across the country to help give more people affected by the deadliest common cancer the very best chance of survival.' Previous research has shown that people over 50 with a new case of type 2 diabetes have a higher chance of being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer within three years.
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Health
- Telegraph
NHS launches drive to catch pancreatic cancer before symptoms show
Urgent pancreatic cancer tests will be offered by the NHS to those most at risk. Family doctors will identify patients who could have developed the deadly disease before symptoms emerge. Pancreatic cancer has the lowest survival rate of all cancers, with just seven per cent living for five years or more because it is typically not detected until it is advanced and harder to treat. GP teams will comb through patient records to identify anyone over 60 who may have signs of the cancer, such as a recent diagnosis of diabetes and sudden weight loss. Figures suggest that around half of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer have been diagnosed with type 1 or 2 diabetes recently. The doctors will contact patients and offer them urgent blood tests and CT scans to either diagnose the cancer or rule it out. Newly diagnosed diabetes patients often have similar symptoms to a person with early-stage pancreatic cancer because the cancer destroys the same insulin-producing cells that are also affected by diabetes. Around 10,500 people in the UK are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer every year, and only around one in 20 survive the disease for 10 years or more. More than half of people die within three months of diagnosis. More than 300 GP practices in England will be involved in the three-year pilot, which is backed by £2 million in funding and set to be fully operational by this autumn. Silent symptoms Prof Peter Johnson, the NHS national clinical director for cancer, said: 'Pancreatic cancer is responsible for so many deaths because patients don't usually notice symptoms until the cancer is at an advanced stage, which is why we need to find new ways to pick it up. 'Through initiatives like this and the upcoming 10-year health plan, the NHS is determined to go a step further – not just treat people at an advanced stage but to go out into communities and seek people out who might be unwell without any symptoms so we can provide people with the most effective treatment,' he said. 'If your GP practice identifies you as at risk of pancreatic cancer, I urge you to come forward for testing as soon as possible.' Karin Smyth, the health minister, said the 'targeted approach to identify people at risk of one of the most lethal cancers could give more people a fighting chance and spare the heartbreak of countless families'. Alfie Bailey-Bearfield, the head of health improvement at Pancreatic Cancer UK, said earlier diagnosis 'would make the single biggest difference to improving survival'. 'We're proud to have been involved in shaping this new case finding pilot, which will support GPs to proactively find people with pancreatic cancer among one of the largest groups known to be at increased risk: those aged over 60, with new onset diabetes who have recently lost weight without trying to do so,' he said. 'Many of the people who are referred for a CT scan during the pilot will not have pancreatic cancer, but for those who do, the impact could be lifesaving.' Previous research has shown that people over 50 with a new case of type 2 diabetes have a higher chance of being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer within three years.
CTV News
3 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
Two sisters raise $3,500 for pancreatic cancer research
11-year-old Everly and 9-year-old Charlotte Hartley honour their grandmother's legacy by raising money for cancer research. 11-year-old Everly and 9-year-old Charlotte Hartley are honouring their grandmother's legacy, who passed away from stage four pancreatic cancer last year. 'She was awesome,' said Everly. 'We liked making cookies together and a whole lot of fun stuff like that.' Soon after their grandmother's passing, the sisters decided to take their love of animals and use it to 'make a difference.' 'She was an animal lover like us,' said Everly. 'We decided to make dog bandanas.' The pair sold their creations for 10 dollars each, donating every cent to the Baker Centre for Pancreatic Cancer at London Health Sciences Centre, the same place their grandmother received care. They have raised over $3,500. 'I wanted to get the money fast enough to get more research for her,' said Everly. 'We didn't, but I am happy we can help some people.' Both Everly and Charlotte agreed that donating for cancer research is an 'important thing' and they both 'really like helping people.' They say they hope their efforts will 'lead to better outcomes' for patients in the future. When asked what the girls thought their grandmother would have to say about their work, Charlotte said she thinks she would be 'proud.' 'She would be happy we did this and that we did it for her,' said Charlotte.
