Commentary. Cancer diagnosis - the role of urgent referral guidelines.

摘要

This excellent review brings together evidence from primary care that will undoubtedly help clinicians in their quest for earlier cancer diagnoses for their patients. It is particularly welcome within the current context of the Department of Health's National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative. Recent policy announcements have focused on easier and quicker access to investigations for GPs for suspected cancer symptoms, and the development and implementation of software for GPs to identify early cancer symptoms within 5 years. Such policies are likely to help save the estimated 5000-10 000 lives per year currently lost in the UK because of probable later diagnosis compared with some European countries.3"5 Data from primary care, such as presented in Hamilton's review, will directly inform the development of these policies.