Cancer patients who have to see GP three times to get diagnosis
A QUARTER of cancer patients made at least three visits to their GP before being sent to hospital for tests that diagnosed their illness, a study reveals.
Some returned repeatedly over a six-month period only to be sent away with painkillers, antibiotics or drugs for high blood pressure.
One in seven said that when the cancer was eventually discovered, their doctor broke the news in an ‘insensitive’ manner.
And a further one in three said their GP failed to offer enough support, such as advice on coping with the side effects of surgery or chemotherapy.
The research into the experiences of more than 70,000 patients by academics at Cambridge University sheds further light on the state of cancer care on the NHS. Survival rates for the illness in the UK are considerably lower than elsewhere in Europe. This has been blamed partly on GPs missing key symptoms so it is diagnosed too late.
Concerns have also been raised that patients are less likely to be offered surgery or the most effective new drugs compared to those in other countries, particularly if they are elderly.
In the past month the NHS has published new guidance for GPs alongside a £400million cancer strategy to improve diagnosis and treatment.
Researchers from Cambridge University and University College London analysed responses from 73,462 patients who had completed the Government’s annual cancer experience survey in 2012 and 2013. A total of 23 per cent had been seen by their GP three or more times before being referred to hospital for further scans, blood tests or investigations which diagnosed the illness.
The research, published in the European Journal of Cancer Care, also showed that patients
‘Missed opportunities’
who are diagnosed late quickly lose faith in the system and are more likely to mistrust other doctors and nurses.
Lead author Dr Giorgios Lyratzopoulos, a scientist based at University College London and Cancer Research UK, said in some instances GPs were ‘closing the case prematurely’. ‘I don’t think it’s the fault of anyone in particular but it is more down to a lack of science and the need to have better tests,’ he added.
Recently, patients with lung cancer complaining of coughs have told how they went back to their GP repeatedly over six months only to be sent away with antibiotics or beta blocker high blood pressure drugs.
Andrew Wilson, of the Rarer Cancers Foundation, said: ‘Missed opportunities to diagnose cancer damage outcomes and destroy patients’ faith in cancer services.’
The UK’s survival rates for some forms of cancer are on a par with those in Estonia and Czech Republic, and lag ten years behind the best performing countries. Last month NICE, the NHS watchdog, issued GPs with a guide on detecting cancer which urged them to pay attention to the less obvious symptoms.
But Dr Richard Roope, of Cancer Research UK, who is also a GP, said: ‘The issue we have in general practice is that a fulltime GP carries out about 8,000 consultations a year and eight of those will be new cancers. The real challenge is that patients don’t always present with the classic symptoms of a given cancer.’
The research also highlighted failings at hospital. Some 13 per cent of patients did not trust their specialist cancer doctor.