Continuing to support patients and health professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19 continues to have a significant impact on primary care – patient presentation levels decreased, and Cancer Research UK estimates around 400,000 fewer people than normal in the UK were sent on an urgent suspected cancer referral between March 2020-January 2021 compared to the same time in the previous year based on the Cancer Waiting Times data.

Lung cancer pathway continues to be particularly affected by the pandemic. In England, from March-December 2020 there have been around 18,400 fewer patients on an urgent suspected lung cancer referral, 34% lower than the number seen in the previous year. Drop in referrals is multifaceted; change in patient behaviour in response to symptoms as a result to COVID-19, symptom overlap between COVID-19 and lung cancer and shifting consultation arrangements that can make patient examination and GP assessment more challenging.

On the 1st February 2021, Public Health England (PHE) launched their 'Help us to Help you' Lung Cancer Campaign which has recently been extended until the end of May 2021. The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness of lung cancer symptoms during COVID-19. The campaign alerts the public to seek help from their GP if they have a cough for 3 weeks or more and reassures people that it is safe to visit the GP.

During February 2021, the Scottish Government ran a similar public facing campaign. Aligned with these national public facing lung campaigns, we continue to highlight lung cancer key messages with health professionals, particularly GPs, aiming to reinforce the importance of being alert to the risk of lung cancer in patients and being aware that symptoms are possibly now being disguised by potential COVID-19 symptoms.

Download our updated one-page recognition and referral of suspected lung cancer during COVID-19 guide.

NB Medical blog: Lung Cancer Diagnosis in 2021

Take a look at NB Medical’s new blog on Lung Cancer Diagnosis in 2021 supported by Cancer Research UK. It explores the new and enhanced challenges of lung cancer diagnosis during the Covid-19 pandemic, highlights the latest research in this space and how GPs can best manage their patients.

Updated GP Contract Hub 2021/22

To support GPs in England deliver on the 2021-22 Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) Quality Improvement (QI) module and the Primary Care Network (PCN) specification on the early diagnosis of cancer, Cancer Research UK has updated its free, one-stop contract hub for GPs. It is quick and easy to access, with clear links to COVID-19 related requirements and resources.

The information on the hub summarises what GPs need to do, and how to get started, including recommendations on what to do from Cancer Research UK front-line GPs.

With signposting to case studies, hints and tips, evidence-based practical resources, training and further support, Cancer Research UK is well placed to support GPs complete the 2021-22 QOF QI module and the PCN specification on the early diagnosis of cancer.

CRUK Early Diagnosis Research - Virtual Series 2021

In February and March 2021, we hosted our first Cancer Research UK Early Diagnosis Research Virtual Series. The move to a series of virtual events was a new concept for Cancer Research UK’s Strategic Evidence Team (formerly Early Diagnosis), enabling us to engage with our wider Early Diagnosis community across the world.

We were honoured to be able to host a packed programme over four sessions with fantastic chairs and speakers from across the UK - we even had a speaker record their presentation from New Zealand! Each of the sessions focused on different elements of the Early Diagnosis pathway from early detection through to diagnosis, generating thought provoking discussions during the Q&A sessions.

We are hugely grateful to those who engaged with the event and for your support as we work collectively, as a community, to reduce the burden of late stage cancer and drive improvements for people affected by cancer.

Due to the success of the sessions held in February and March we are planning more later in the year. If you want to hear about future sessions in the virtual series or there is anything in particular you want to hear about please contact us at earlydiagnosis@cancer.org.uk

Bowel Cancer Awareness Month - New FIT resources available

April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month and we are pleased to be able to share with you the updated England version of the key differences FIT infographic which outlines the use of the Faecal Immunochemical test in screening compared to how it is used to investigate symptomatic patients.

This has been developed to support health professionals’ understanding of the different uses of FIT and highlights the recent pathway changes in the use of FIT for symptomatic patients in both primary and secondary care settings.

To support the increasing use of FIT in symptomatic patients we have also developed a ‘How to complete your FIT test’ patient facing leaflet to encourage patients to complete the FIT test correctly and in a timely manner.

Translate your tech-led innovations for the Early Diagnosis of Cancer

Do you have an early-stage technology in development that is focused on diagnostics, MedTech or AI?

We have launched the Cancer Tech Accelerator, our latest entrepreneurial programme in partnership with Capital Enterprise and Roche UK, designed to equip you with the entrepreneurial and technical skills required to translate your tech-led innovations into a start-up that can benefit patients, especially in the field of early cancer diagnosis. Five successful teams will be awarded £50,000 of non-dilutive grant funding to develop and validate your idea, before we help you form an investor-ready start-up.

Applications close on the 31 May 2021.

CRUK blog: Innovative colon capsule endoscopy (CCE)

Colon capsule endoscopy (CCE) is a pill camera innovation which can investigate the colon to help identify bowel cancer, and is proposed as an alternative to colonoscopy for some patients with possible symptoms of bowel cancer.

NHS England have recently announced a CCE pilot programme with 40 centres signed up and 11,000 pill cameras available for certain patients with potential bowel cancer symptoms.

In Scotland, the SCOTCAP team have led the way with rapid implementation and evaluation of CCE as a patient-centred service. Read more about their success story in our blog below.