Abstract 4433
Background
Cancers presenting with ‘vague symptoms’ are difficult to diagnose. These non-specific but serious symptoms (weight loss, anorexia, pain, fatigue) have a number of causes including malignancy. The risk for each individual cancer may be low, but the total risk of cancer of any type is higher. Patients diagnosed with cancer as the result of an emergency presentation (EP) to secondary care have poorer survival, usually describe a long history of symptoms, and most have seen their general practitioner (GP) prior to presentation. Earlier diagnosis improves cancer outcomes. But investigating vague symptoms is challenging, requiring both oncology and general medical knowledge, while bespoke rapid-access oncology diagnostic clinics are needed to avoid EP.
Methods
The Acute Diagnostic Oncology Clinic was established at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital in 2016. It initially provided rapid access investigations for those too ill to wait for an urgent suspected cancer appointment, as an alternative to the Emergency Department (ED). In February 2018 the clinic expanded to, uniquely, include a GP with specialist interest in oncology and patients with ‘vague symptoms’.
Results
361 referrals were received, 65% were female. Weight loss was the commonest vague symptom (50%). Initially, 96% of patients were seen within 24 hours of referral, falling to 69% after expansion of the clinic remit in 2018. 34% of patients (from 2018, 21%) were diagnosed with cancer. Mean time from referral to diagnosis was 4 days, and to starting cancer treatment it was 20 days. A range of cancers were identified, lung the commonest, and advanced stage disease the most likely. A number of significant non-malignant conditions were diagnosed. One-third of patients provided feedback. Only 37% were told at referral that cancer was suspected. The service was rated Excellent or Very Good in all cases. 84% valued being seen urgently. Feedback was received from 40 GPs. 100% would use the service again. Alternate referral routes would have been routine cancer referral (60%) or ED (13%).
Conclusions
To our knowledge, this is the only GP-oncology led rapid access cancer diagnostic clinic. Combining general medical and oncology expertise is an effective approach for diagnosing patients with vague symptoms and tackling EP cancer.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
CW+ Healthcare Charity.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
Resources from the same session
2115 - Preclinical in vivo screening to predict responder patients depend on EGFR status
Presenter: Yejin Kim
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
3349 - Interplay between miR-17-5p and MALAT-1 Shapes The Cytokine Storm in Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) Tumor Microenvironment
Presenter: Raghda Soliman
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
4014 - Clinical verification on the relationship between lipid metabolism and the immune microenvironment of breast cancer
Presenter: Wataru Goto
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
4158 - The clinical and transcriptional signatures of human CD204 reveal an applicable marker for tumor associated macrophage in breast cancer
Presenter: Yunjie He
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
5392 - Activated effector T cells co-expressing multiple inhibitory receptors (IRs) are enriched in the tumor immune microenvironment in high grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC)
Presenter: Alice Bergamini
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
2617 - Oncolytic reovirus as a new anti-tumor strategy in castration resistant prostate cancer
Presenter: Yunlim Kim
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
2995 - Dysregulation of helper T lymphocytes in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients is highly associated with aberrant production of miR-21
Presenter: Ali Memarian
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
3597 - Myeloid derived suppressor cells but not regulatory T cells are associated with adaptive immunity and clinical outcomes in anal squamous cell carcinoma
Presenter: Christophe Borg
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
3430 - Evaluation of immune responses among responders (R) and non-responders (non-R) in a humanized mouse model with colorectal cancer (CRC) xenografts treated with combination immunotherapy
Presenter: Juan Marín Jiménez
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
1995 - ¬¬Advanced melanoma patients with high CD16+ macrophages have better response and survival to anti-PD-1 based immunotherapy
Presenter: Hansol Lee
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract