Doctors urged to find their 'sense of tumour' with teenage sufferers

Published on Thursday 10 March 2011 16:18

ONE in four teenage cancer patients had to visit their GP at least four times before being referred to a specialist, according to a report published yesterday.

A Teenage Cancer Trust survey found three in five of the young people questioned felt their diagnosis could have been made more quickly.

The survey, carried out at trust's annual "Find Your Sense of Tumour" conference, also found that a fifth of young patients reported that their GPs did not refer them to a specialist at all, even though almost two thirds had at least two of the most common symptoms of cancer: pain, lump/swelling, tiredness, headache or drastic weight loss.

The findings highlight the serious issue of delayed diagnosis of cancer in teenagers, suggesting that health professionals are not considering cancer as a reality for young people and are failing to take their symptoms seriously.

Such delays significantly increase the stress and anxiety young people experience, and in some cases they can affect their chances of survival.

Hannah Merridale, 25, was diagnosed with a carcinoid tumour in her right lung at 18, after spending more than five years repeatedly visiting her GP.

She said: "I started feeling really breathless when I was 13, but my GP said it was asthma.

"It got worse to the point where I had a constant stabbing pain in my chest yet they still told me it was asthma.

"Five years later I got really ill and spent four months visiting my doctor every week until he eventually gave in to my pestering and sent me for a chest X-ray.

"The X-ray showed that my right lung had collapsed, and by the time I saw a consultant the collapsed part had died.

"All this time I had a large tumour growing on my lung and as a result I've had two thirds of it removed."

Teenage Cancer Trust is calling for the diagnosis rates of cancer in young people to be improved in order to transform the experience and outcomes for young people with the condition.

The charity believes that the new NHS and GP Consortia in particular have a big role to play in making sure the best possible diagnostic tools and referral pathways are in place.

Simon Davies, chief executive of Teenage Cancer Trust, said: "We know that young people can ignore their symptoms or be too scared to speak to their doctor immediately, so it's vital that when they do, GPs listen to them and take appropriate action.

"We advocate for a 'three strikes' approach where GPs automatically refer undiagnosed cases of young people presenting with the same symptoms after three repeat visits.Mr Davies added: "The two-week referral for suspected cancer is a major breakthrough for cancer patients but it won't benefit young people until GPs think cancer quicker."

Professor Sir Mike Richards CBE, national clinical director for cancer, said: "Early diagnosis can only be achieved through the education of both young people to increase their confidence in approaching health professionals and GPs to help them recognise the signs and symptoms of cancer in young people.

"This is a major programme of work, and something which we are working closely with Teenage Cancer Trust to achieve."

There are 17 Teenage Cancer Trust units across the UK.