Campaign resources for HCPs
The ambition set by NHS England is that 75% of cancers should be diagnosed in stages 1&2 by 2028. Currently, around 50% of cancers are diagnosed early.
The early diagnosis programme in south east London aims to increase the number of patients diagnosed with cancer at an earlier stage, a key priority in NHS England’s Long Term Plan by working with system partners across South East London to implement screening and early diagnosis initiatives and interventions.
The Early Diagnosis Programme also runs an extensive education programme for primary care and previous recordings of educational webinars and support documents can be found under the training and development section of the website.
If you would like to find out further information about the screening and early diagnosis initiatives and interventions planned for this year, please contact the Early Diagnosis Lead in the Cancer Alliance via our contact form.
We are working with a number of partners across South East London to improve uptake in cancer screening programmes and to reduce inequalities across the three screening programmes:
- Bowel
- Breast
- Cervical
We are carrying out a number of projects to support recovery and increase uptake in the screening programmes. If you would like to know what you can do in your local practice or area, then please contact us.
The Cancer Alliance is working with primary care cancer leads across South East London to ensure that Primary Care Networks (PCNS) and GPs within these are kept up to date with changes and updates to pathways.
The DHSE announced the plan for "a targeted screening programme for men between the ages of 45 and 61 who have both a BRCA2 gene variant and a family history of pancreatic, prostate, breast or ovarian cancer, with testing offered every two years."
Although not a screening programme, the Prostate Case Finding Pathway targeted different high-risk group. As they are not included in the above cohort we feel it would be appropriate to stop this work until further guidance is provided.
There is no change to the symptomatic pathway. If a man is presenting with symptoms, then he should continue to be referred for a PSA test. Overview | Prostate cancer: diagnosis and management | Guidance | NICE
With regard to asymptomatic PSA testing, the updated NHS patient information on prostate testing states that;
PSA blood tests are not routinely offered if a man does not have symptoms or have a BRCA2 gene variant. If a patient is worried about prostate cancer, then they can ask their GP about having a PSA test.....GP will consider the patient’s cancer risk to help with reaching a judgement on whether undertaking a PSA test is the right option for the patient, whilst clearly laying out to the patient the pros and cons associated with doing so.
There is information on the NHS website for patients here;
The PCUK risk checker has also been updated;
Check your risk in 30 seconds | Prostate Cancer UK
When counselling men about having a PSA test please be aware that:
- A DRE is NOT a requirement for referral.
- In SEL the diagnostic process involves an MRI as the first investigation.
Biopsies done in SEL are done transperineally only.
If you’d like to find out further information about the screening and early diagnosis work programme, then please contact us.