New tool could help GPs diagnose panc... - Pancreatic Cancer...

Pancreatic Cancer Action

1,768 members333 posts

New tool could help GPs diagnose pancreatic cancer earlier

PCA_AliStunt profile image
PCA_AliStuntPancreatic Cancer Action
3 Replies

UK academics from the University of Nottingham along with ClinRisk Ltd have developed two new “QCancer” algorithms to help GPs detect both bowel and pancreatic cancers.

The simple tool cross-references both symptoms and risk factors of patients to ‘red flag’ those most likely to have the disease. Early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is crucial so patients can be eligible for surgery – currently the only potential for a cure.

The research, published in the January edition of the British Journal of General Practice – the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners – used patient data from 564 GP practices across the UK to develop the algorithm and to test its success at predicting which patients were likely to have pancreatic cancer. This was based on a combination of symptoms such as weight loss, appetite loss and abdominal pain along with risk factors such as age, chronic pancreatitis, smoking and diabetes.

The researchers found that the algorithm was successful in predicting over two thirds of all pancreatic cancers over the two year period which were in the top ten percent of patients predicted to be most at risk.

There is potential for these algorithms to be incorporated into existing GP computer systems to alert doctors of patients who may potentially be at risk of developing the disease.

Ali Stunt, Chief Executive of Pancreatic Cancer Action said; “Early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is the key to improving survival rates for this disease and anything that can help doctors diagnose sooner is welcomed wholeheartedly and an algorithm that looks at both symptoms and a patient’s potential risk is an important step forward.

“We sincerely hope that these algorithms will have been designed to take into account the collection of vague and often overlooked symptoms of pancreatic cancer so early stage disease can be identified sooner as well as using the key alarm symptoms such as weight loss and abdominal pain which often are indicative of later stage pancreatic cancer.”

Written by
PCA_AliStunt profile image
PCA_AliStunt
Pancreatic Cancer Action
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
3 Replies
cathdw1 profile image
cathdw1

This is at last a bit of possitive news , Hopefully it will help future generations ,

Bradbury profile image
Bradbury

One piece of hope in the mist of gloom

nursing profile image
nursing

Thats great news!! Wish with all my heart that it could have saved my father.

You may also like...

Please Help Just found out my Husband has Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosed with Stage 3.

yrs old yesterday, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer stage 3 on 3-14-2012, I am so scared for...

Pancreatic Cancer Survivor

off. My quality of life is excellent and almost symptom free. My regular CT scans shows no change...

T4 inoperable pancreatic cancer

has just been diagnosed with T4 inoperable pancreatic cancer...He is 62 years old, and up until a...

Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer

Just diagnosed with stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer. Waiting to see oncologist on Wednesday. Scared I’m...

I'm new - Chronic Pancreatitis - Help and trying to get a diagnosis.

(about year!) & we suspect chronic pancreatitis - hopefully not a cancer diagnosis - but how long...