A new project is aiming to speed up bowel cancer diagnosis.
The pilot scheme is underway in Greater Glasgow and Clyde as part of a UK-wide programme funded by Cancer Research UK.
It forms part of Cancer Research UK’s Test Evidence Transition (TET) programme and is supported by the Bowelbabe Fund.
The scheme focuses on the Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) given to patients with bowel cancer symptoms.
Read more: NHSGGC urges parents to get under-fives vaccinated as flu cases rise
The pilot is raising the threshold for the most urgent referral to 20 micrograms per gram of stool, in line with updated Scottish guidelines.
Evidence suggests that patients with results between 10 and 20 micrograms are at very low risk of having bowel cancer.
Patients below the threshold who continue to show concerning symptoms, or who have iron deficiency anaemia, will be offered a second FIT.
Dr Stephen McSorley, consultant colorectal surgeon at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) and senior clinical research fellow at the University of Glasgow, said: “This pilot will help us improve how we assess and investigate patients who present to their GP with symptoms that could be caused by bowel cancer.
“By refining the FIT threshold and improving communication between primary and secondary care, we aim to ensure the fastest possible diagnosis for those at highest risk.”
The evaluation of the pilot will be supported by research teams at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge and, if successful, the approach could be adopted by other health boards across Scotland and the wider UK.
Brian Nicholson, associate professor at the University of Oxford, said: “The safety measures that the team have put in place for their patients will reduce the risk of delayed or missed bowel cancer diagnoses.
“We are working together to understand how their approach would best be introduced in other regions.”
Scotland is reported to have one of the highest rates of bowel cancer in the UK, with around 4200 people diagnosed annually.
It remains the second most common cause of cancer death in Scotland, with around 1700 deaths each year.
Read more: NHSGGC awards major contract worth more than £500m to boost lab services
Though the pilot is for symptomatic patients, screening remains a key tool for early detection.
The NHS Scotland National Bowel Screening Programme invites everyone aged 50 to 74 to take part in regular screenings every two years.
Naser Turabi, director of evidence and implementation at Cancer Research UK, said: “We’re proud to support NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in this innovative pilot together with the Bowelbabe Fund.
“Tackling diagnostic delays is critical to improving cancer outcomes, and this project has the potential to make a real difference for patients in the region and beyond.”
Share