Rob Dillard

DocwireNews

A study <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877782119300992?via%3Dihub">published</a> in Cancer Epidemiology shows that cancer patients who skip an urgent referral appointment for their symptoms are more likely to die within 12 months of diagnosis.This study, led by researchers at the University of York and Hull York Medical School, examined data from more than 100,000 patients who had been urgently referred by around 100 different GP practices in the North of England. While most patients in the study (95%) attended their referral appointment, but a significant minority (5% or 5,673 people) did not.While the study found that only one in 18 of the patients who skipped their appointment went on to be diagnosed with cancer &ndash; juxtaposed to one in 10 of those who did attend &ndash; the outlook for patients who missed their appointment and did have cancer was notably worse compared to those who attended their appointment.According to the results of the study, 34.6% of non-attending patients with cancer had an advanced stage of the disease at diagnosis compared to 18.4% of attenders with cancer. Moreover, according to the researchers having a more advanced stage of the disease is likely to be a reason why more non-attending patients with cancer died within a year of diagnosis (31.3% compared to 19.2% of attenders), the researchers say.&ldquo;Our study showed cancer diagnosis was less likely in non-attending patients but those who are diagnosed have worse outcomes than attending patients with cancer,&rdquo; <a href="https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-09/uoy-pdw091219.php">said</a> Dr Peter Knapp, from the Department of Health Sciences at the University of York and Hull York Medical School.&ldquo;Non-attendance at urgent referral appointments for suspected cancer involves a minority of patients, but happens in somewhat predictable groups. For example, we found that patients with suspected gastrointestinal cancer were among the least likely to attend &ndash; this may be due to concerns about unpleasant or embarrassing procedures.&ldquo;Our research suggests that more could be done to identify individuals at risk of non-attendance and offer extra support.&rdquo;The NHS&rsquo;s &lsquo;Two Week Wait&rsquo; policy aims to ensure that patients with suspected cancer are seen by a consultant within two weeks of an urgent GP referral.While there is more awareness around the issues of ignored cancer screening invitations and the waste of resources incurred from missed GP appointments, the study is the first to focus on non-attendance of symptomatic patients referred due to suspected cancer.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Patients diagnosed with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cancer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cancer</a> after skipping appointment more likely to die within a year <a href="https://twitter.com/UniOfYork?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@uniofyork</a> <a href="https://t.co/8NPlmKcfna">https://t.co/8NPlmKcfna</a>
&mdash; Medical Xpress (@physorg_health) <a href="https://twitter.com/physorg_health/status/1172159039314247680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2019</a>
</blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
New post (Patients diagnosed with cancer after skipping appointment more likely to die within a year) has been published on Oncology News Australia &ndash; <a href="https://t.co/naLtNOiqbM">https://t.co/naLtNOiqbM</a> <a href="https://t.co/T3qi74wEzc">pic.twitter.com/T3qi74wEzc</a>
&mdash; Oncology News Australia (@OncologyNewsAus) <a href="https://twitter.com/OncologyNewsAus/status/1173601821979361281?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 16, 2019</a>
</blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Bradley Warady, MD

Joel M. Topf, MD, FACP

2025 Hume Award Winner Is Dedicated to Children’s Care

NKF Spring Clinical Meetings 2025

Jordana Jampel

Distant Brain Metastases in Cutaneous Melanoma May Be Mitigated With Multiple Pathway Inhibitors

Melanoma

Eric Bergson, MD

The Role of Multidisciplinary Care in Head and Neck Cancer

Head and Neck Cancer

Latest News

Cancer Patients Who Skip an Urgent Referral Appointment Are More Likely to Die

Oncology

A study published in Cancer Epidemiology shows that cancer patients who skip an urgent referral appointment for their symptoms are more likely to die within 12 months of ...

About Us

Editorial Policy

Advertising

Contact Us

eNewsletters

Contribute

Career Center

MashupMD

Blood Cancers Today

Cancer Nursing Today

GU Oncology Now

Urban Health Today

Bile Duct Cancer

Colorectal Cancer

Gastroesophageal Cancer

Gastric Cancer

GEP-NETs

GIST

Liver Cancer

Pancreatic Cancer

GI Oncology Now

Anemia

Deep Vein Thrombosis

Essential Thrombocythemia

Hemophilia

Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Myelofibrosis

Myeloproliferative Neoplasms

Polycythemia Vera

Pulmonary Embolism

Sickle Cell Disease

Thrombocytopenia

Thrombophilia

Thrombosis

Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Venous Thromboembolism

von Willebrand Disease

Heme Today

Acute Kidney Injury

ADPKD

Anemia and Kidney Disease

Chronic Kidney Disease

COVID-19 and Kidney Disease

Diabetes and Hypertension

End-Stage Renal Disease

Gout

Hyperkalemia

IgAN

Kidney Transplantation

Metabolic Acidosis

Nephrology Times

HER2 Breast Cancer

HR Breast Cancer

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Genetics & Breast Cancer

Breast Cancers Today

Atherosclerotic Disease

Atrial Fibrillation

Heart Failure

Hypertension

Interventional Cardiology

Lipid Management

Practice Tips With Dr. Lichaa

Preventive Cardiology

Stroke

Cardiology

Breast Cancer

Gynecologic Cancer

Skin Cancer

Sleep

Urology

Diabetes

Ophthalmology

— Demodex Blepharitis

Neurology

Rheumatology

Gastroenterology

Pulmonology

Infectious Diseases

— HIV

Health and Wellness

Lupus

Future of Medicine

Orthopedics

Pharmacology

Career News

More

Conferences

CardioNerds

The Sleep Source With Dr. Morse

Rheumatology Rounds With Dr. Maheswaranathan

Partners

Expert Interviews

Subscribe