GP practices in North Central London are taking part in an England-wide pilot to find patients who may be at higher risk of pancreatic cancer. The study aims to diagnose more cancers at an early and treatable stage.
Figures suggest that around half of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer have been diagnosed with type 1 or 2 diabetes recently.
Local patients who are aged 60 and over, have new onset diabetes and recent unexplained weight loss, will be referred for blood tests and an urgent CT scan to rule cancer in or out.
The pilot involves 31 GP practices in the boroughs of Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington. They will be given extra funding and support to regularly search through patient records to identify people with what could be early symptoms of the cancer.
Pancreatic cancer is the fifth most common cause of cancer deaths in the UK. It usually has vague symptoms and is often diagnosed in the late stages.
The NHS will pilot the scheme across over 300 GP practices across England and it is thought the two-year pilot will increase the number of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at an early stage, when treatment is more possible.
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.
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.
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”.
“It’s great to be part of a pilot to try increase the pick-up rate of a cancer that is so hard to detect with often poor prognosis
Through the pilot, we can increase awareness and hopefully also show that proactive work like this leads to earlier diagnosis and better patient outcomes.” Dr Nufar Wetterhahn GP, Barnet
“Pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed late and has a low survival rate. We hope taking part in this pilot will give our patients a better chance at successful treatment and have a positive impact on the lives of both patients and their families.” Dr Ammara Hughes GP, Camden
The pilot’s progress will be closely monitored, with an initial data review meeting scheduled for early in October. Subject to the pilot’s success, the pilot may be expanded across England.