How easy is it to spot cancer early?

Research published earlier this year by Macmillan Cancer Support found that one quarter of cancers weren’t diagnosed until a patient arrived at A&E with their symptoms. It’s a shocking statistic and one which today’s announcement from the government is supposed to address.

But in deciding whether the government is right to pressure GPs it is important to understand the types of cancers we’re talking about. Screening and referrals for things like breast, cervical and prostate cancer have improved immeasurably in recent years. However, for other cancers like bowel cancer there’s been less improvement, and pancreatic or oesophageal cancer no improvement at all.

No doctor would argue they shouldn’t be more vigilant for any of these common types of cancer. And occasionally a cancer diagnosis is overlooked in a person whose age or family history should immediately raise a red flag for a GP. However some cancers are much harder to spot than others.

Early signs of bowel cancer can be confused with other common bowel complaints like irritable bowel syndrome. If GPs referred everyone with those symptoms for a invasive and unpleasant colonoscopy, the system could soon be in gridlock. For oesophageal and pancreatic cancer clear symptoms are often completely absent until a cancer is dangerously advanced.

Of course, there needs to be maximum awareness among GPs of the possibility of cancer, but better patient awareness of symptoms and investment in new and better technologies to test for these more hidden cancers would also go a long way to improving survival.

Follow Tom Clarke on Twitter: @TomClarkeC4