What everyone should know...

WEIGHT LOSS AND CANCER

I believe people over 60 who suddenly lose weight should be tested to exclude a range of cancers. Weight loss is a “non-specific” cancer symptom and GPs often wait for more specific symptoms to appear before referring patients for tests.

But the latest research, based on the review of 25 earlier studies, points to a more radical approach.

Sudden weight loss, the team found, can be a sign of 10 types of cancer, including prostate, colorectal, lung and pancreatic.

When it occurs in the over-60s it indicates cancer roughly 10% of the time – easily above the 3% threshold that the Department of Health sets for triggering specialist investigation. “Cancer guidelines are typically based around specific symptoms, like coughing up blood for lung cancer or difficulty swallowing for gastric cancer,” said Brian D Nicholson of the University of Oxford, who led the research.

The report’s publication, in the British Journal of General Practice, coincides with NHS England’s announcement that it will roll out a series of one-stop shops for cancer, designed to speed up diagnosis for those with vague symptoms – such as weight loss – but who lack “alarm” symptoms.

Slow diagnosis is thought to be the main reason why the UK’S cancer survival rates lag behind those of other European countries.