In the UK, The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has updated and redesigned its guideline to help GPs recognise the signs and symptoms of 37 different cancers and refer people for the right tests faster.

The updated guideline uses a new approach that involves focusing on the symptoms that a patient might experience and go to their doctor with in order to make its recommendations easier for GPs to use. The guidelines set out clear tables linking signs and symptoms to possible cancers, and include simple recommendations about which tests to perform and the type of referral to specialist services that should be made. It is estimated that about 5,0

00 lives could be saved each year in England by making an earlier diagnosis of cancer. Frequently, patients present at primary care with non-specific symptoms. Signs of cancer may also not be obvious or clear and GPs see, on average, only around eight new cases per year. According to NICE, its updated guidance will make it easier for GPs to consider the possibility of cancer sooner, and refer people for tests faster. This in turn will mean that more people will receive an early diagnosis and early treatment.

source: optimistworld.com