New research aids GP diagnosis of bowel cancer

The University of Exeter, in partnership with Bowel Cancer UK’s Never Too Young campaign, has published new research and a risk assessment tool to support GPs in identifying the symptoms of a serious bowel condition for patients aged under-50.

The assessment tool, which comes ahead of Bowel Cancer Awareness Month in April, calculates the risk of the patient’s bowel symptoms allowing the GP to decide whether they need further tests.

It is hoped the tool will speed up the diagnosis of patients under 50 and arrives as every year in the UK over 2,500 under-50s are diagnosed with bowel cancer, a 45 per cent increase since 2004.

According to Bowel Cancer UK, symptoms of these conditions are common and account for one in 12 GP appointments, however, it can be difficult for GPs to determine which patients need further tests.

Published in the British Journal of General Practice, the tool calculates the risk of a serious disease with a percentage, as well as suggesting the next steps: three per cent risk or more - the GP should refer the patient for an urgent colonoscopy (a test to examine the inside of the bowel) or refer the patient to a specialist for further assessment; one-to-three per cent risk - the GP should recommend the patient for a faecal calprotectin test (which shows if there is any inflammation in the bowel); less than one per cent risk - the GP should monitor the patient’s progress, but at this stage no further tests are needed.

Willie Hamilton, professor of Primary Care Diagnostics at the University of Exeter Medical School, who led the research said: “The risk assessment tool should be used as a reminder to GPs to consider the likelihood of an individual patient having a serious bowel condition given the symptom or combination of symptoms they present with. The tool does not replace clinical judgement but provides more information to base a referral decision.”

Deborah Alsina MBE, Chief Executive, Bowel Cancer UK, added: “As the numbers of under-50s affected by bowel cancer and bowel disease continues to rise, research is fundamental in finding better ways to diagnose people early when treatment is likely to be more successful.

“We launched our flagship Never Too Young campaign in 2013 to highlight the experiences of young people for the first time and to improve their diagnosis, treatment and care so that more lives are saved. Delayed diagnosis is all too common for young patients with both bowel cancer and inflammatory bowel disease therefore finding quicker, more effective ways to identify and diagnose these patients earlier is crucial. Our research shows that one in five young patients have to visit their GP five times or more before they get their diagnosis and this is simply not acceptable.”