Cancer diagnosis in primary care

Around a quarter of those in the developed world die of cancer. Most cancers present to primary care with symptoms, even when there is a screening test for the particular cancer. However, the symptoms of cancer are also symptoms of benign disease, and the GP has to judge whether cancer is a possible...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inBritish journal of general practice Vol. 60; no. 571; pp. 121 - 128
Main Author Hamilton, William
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England Royal College of General Practitioners 01.02.2010
Subjects
Adult
Breast Neoplasms - diagnosis
Colonic Neoplasms - diagnosis
Early Detection of Cancer
Family Practice
Female
Humans
Lung Neoplasms - diagnosis
Male
Middle Aged
Neoplasms - diagnosis
Ovarian Neoplasms - diagnosis
Physician's Role
Prostatic Neoplasms - diagnosis
Review
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ISSN0960-1643
1478-5242
1478-5242
DOI10.3399/bjgp10X483175

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Summary:Around a quarter of those in the developed world die of cancer. Most cancers present to primary care with symptoms, even when there is a screening test for the particular cancer. However, the symptoms of cancer are also symptoms of benign disease, and the GP has to judge whether cancer is a possible explanation. Very little research examined this process until relatively recently. This review paper examines the process of primary care diagnosis, especially the selection of patients for rapid investigation. It concentrates on the four commonest UK cancers: breast, lung, colon, and prostate as these have been the subject of most recent studies.
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ISSN:0960-1643
1478-5242
1478-5242
DOI:10.3399/bjgp10X483175