Often the cause of these symptoms remains unclear after GP assessment. There is commonly a minor cause for such symptoms. However, there is a small chance that they could be the signs of a serious illness, such as cancer. Therefore, these symptoms are often called 'low-risk but not no-risk' symptoms.
At present, GPs do not have a way to get rapid investigations for patients with 'non-specific' symptoms. Patients can go back and forth between their GP and the hospital many times until a diagnosis is made; this takes time with diagnoses and treatment potentially delayed. Although the risk of serious disease is low, a delay in diagnosis and treatment may have a negative effect on the patients' health and overall wellbeing.
The Oxford Radiology Research Unit (ORRU) and the Radiology department at the Churchill Hospital are running the Suspected CANcer (SCAN) pathway which involves:
- rapid access to Computed Tomography (CT) scanning
- laboratory tests (blood and faeces tests)
- any further tests if needed.
Dependent on these results, an appointment with a Doctor working in a Multi Diagnostic Clinic (MDC) is arranged. The aim is to reach a diagnosis and begin treatment as quickly as possible.
We are now conducting the second phase of a programme called ACE (Accelerate, Co-ordinate, Evaluate). We have been working closely with primary and secondary care clinicians who are keen to improve cancer care, to design a new diagnostic pathway for patients in Oxfordshire with these 'non-specific' symptoms.
Our team
ORRU / Radiology Department
- Gabriele AbuEid
Research Nurse - Hannah Pointing
Senior Radiographer/SCAN Navigator - Julie-Ann Moreland
Senior Radiographer/SCAN Navigator - Dr Rachel Benamore
Consultant Radiologist/Clinical Director of Radiology - Professor Niall Moore
Consultant Radiologist - Professor Fergus Gleeson
Consultant Radiologist
OCCG
- Zoe Kaveney
Project Manager - Dr Shelley Hayles
Cancer Lead for the OCCG
Nuffield Department of Primary Care
- Dr Jason Oke
Health Economist - Dr Claire Friedemann-Smith
- Dr Brian Nicholson
Macmillan Cancer Care GP and clinical researcher
MDC clinicians
- Dr Daniel Mitchener
Consultant of General Medicine - Dr Alexandra Montagu
Consultant Gerontologist - Dr Sarah Smith
Consultant Gerontologist - Dr Maggie Hammersley
Consultant of General Medicine - Professor Daniel Lasserson
Consultant of Acute Medicine and Ambulatory Care
