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Dilley J, Gentry-Maharaj A, Ryan A, Burnell M, Manchanda R, Kalsi J, Singh N, Woolas R, Sharma A, Williamson K, Mould T, Fallowfield L, Campbell S, Skates SJ, McGuire A, Parmar M, Jacobs I, Menon U. Ovarian cancer symptoms in pre-clinical invasive epithelial ovarian cancer - An exploratory analysis nested within the UK Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening (UKCTOCS). Gynecol Oncol 2023; 179:123-130. [PMID: 37980767 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2023.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE UKCTOCS provides an opportunity to explore symptoms in preclinical invasive epithelial ovarian cancer (iEOC). We report on symptoms in women with pre-clinical (screen-detected) cancers (PC) compared to clinically diagnosed (CD) cancers. METHODS In UKCTOCS, 202638 postmenopausal women, aged 50-74 were randomly allocated (April 17, 2001-September 29, 2005) 2:1:1 to no screening or annual screening till Dec 31,2011, using a multimodal or ultrasound strategy. Follow-up was through national registries. An outcomes committee adjudicated on OC diagnosis, histotype, stage. Eligible women were those diagnosed with iEOC at primary censorship (Dec 31, 2014). Symptom details were extracted from trial clinical-assessment forms and medical records. Descriptive statistics were used to compare symptoms in PC versus CD women with early (I/II) and advanced (III/IV/unable to stage) stage high-grade-serous (HGSC) cancer. ISRCTN-22488978; ClinicalTrials.gov-NCT00058032. RESULTS 1133 (286PC; 847CD) women developed iEOC. Median age (years) at diagnosis was earlier in PC compared to CD (66.8PC, 68.7CD, p = 0.0001) group. In the PC group, 48% (112/234; 90%, 660/730CD) reported symptoms when questioned. Half PC (50%, 13/26PC; 36%, 29/80CD; p = 0.213) women with symptomatic HGSC had >1symptom, with abdominal symptoms most common, both in early (62%, 16/26, PC; 53% 42/80, CD; p = 0.421) and advanced (57%, 49/86, PC; 74%, 431/580, CD; p = 0.001) stages. In symptomatic early-stage HGSC, compared to CD, PC women reported more gastrointestinal (change in bowel habits and dyspepsia) (35%, 9/26PC; 9%, 7/80CD; p = 0.001) and systemic (mostly lethargy/tiredness) (27%, 7/26PC; 9%, 7/80CD; p = 0.017) symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Our findings, add to the growing evidence, that we should reconsider what constitutes alert symptoms for early tubo-ovarian cancer. We need a more nuanced complex of key symptoms which is then evaluated and refined in a prospective trial.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Dilley
- Department of Gynaecological Oncology, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Aleksandra Gentry-Maharaj
- MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, Institute of Clinical Trials & Methodology, University College London, London, UK; Department of Women's Cancer, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Andy Ryan
- MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, Institute of Clinical Trials & Methodology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Matthew Burnell
- MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, Institute of Clinical Trials & Methodology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Ranjit Manchanda
- Department of Gynaecological Oncology, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK; Wolfson Institute of Population Health, CRUK Barts Cancer Centre, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Jatinderpal Kalsi
- Department of Women's Cancer, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Naveena Singh
- Department of Cellular Pathology, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Robert Woolas
- Department of Gynaecological Oncology, Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, UK
| | - Aarti Sharma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK
| | - Karin Williamson
- Department of Gynaecological Oncology, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham, UK
| | - Tim Mould
- Department of Gynaecological Oncology, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Lesley Fallowfield
- Sussex Health Outcomes Research and Education in Cancer (SHORE-C), Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Sussex, UK
| | | | - Steven J Skates
- Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Harvard, MA, USA
| | | | - Mahesh Parmar
- MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, Institute of Clinical Trials & Methodology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Ian Jacobs
- Department of Women's Cancer, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Usha Menon
- MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, Institute of Clinical Trials & Methodology, University College London, London, UK.
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Menon U, Weller D, Falborg AZ, Jensen H, Butler J, Barisic A, Knudsen AK, Bergin RJ, Brewster DH, Cairnduff V, Fourkala EO, Gavin AT, Grunfeld E, Harland E, Kalsi J, Law RJ, Lin Y, Turner D, Neal RD, White V, Harrison S, Reguilon I, Lynch C, Vedsted P. Diagnostic routes and time intervals for ovarian cancer in nine international jurisdictions; findings from the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership (ICBP). Br J Cancer 2022; 127:844-854. [PMID: 35618787 PMCID: PMC9427750 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-022-01844-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership Module 4 reports the first international comparison of ovarian cancer (OC) diagnosis routes and intervals (symptom onset to treatment start), which may inform previously reported variations in survival and stage. METHODS Data were collated from 1110 newly diagnosed OC patients aged >40 surveyed between 2013 and 2015 across five countries (51-272 per jurisdiction), their primary-care physicians (PCPs) and cancer treatment specialists, supplement by treatment records or clinical databases. Diagnosis routes and time interval differences using quantile regression with reference to Denmark (largest survey response) were calculated. RESULTS There were no significant jurisdictional differences in the proportion diagnosed with symptoms on the Goff Symptom Index (53%; P = 0.179) or National Institute for Health and Care Excellence NG12 guidelines (62%; P = 0.946). Though the main diagnosis route consistently involved primary-care presentation (63-86%; P = 0.068), onward urgent referral rates varied significantly (29-79%; P < 0.001). In most jurisdictions, diagnostic intervals were generally shorter and other intervals, in particular, treatment longer compared to Denmark. CONCLUSION This study highlights key intervals in the diagnostic pathway where improvements could be made. It provides the opportunity to consider the systems and approaches across different jurisdictions that might allow for more timely ovarian cancer diagnosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Usha Menon
- MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, Institute of Clinical Trials & Methodology, University College London, London, UK.
| | - David Weller
- Centre for Population Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Henry Jensen
- Research Unit for General Practice, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - John Butler
- The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | | | - Anne Kari Knudsen
- European Palliative Care Research Centre (PRC), Department of Oncology, Oslo, Norway
- University Hospital and Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Rebecca J Bergin
- Cancer Epidemiology Division, Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of General Practice, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - David H Brewster
- Centre for Population Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Scottish Cancer Registry, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Victoria Cairnduff
- Northern Ireland Cancer Registry, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Evangelia Ourania Fourkala
- Gynaecological Cancer Research Centre, Women's Cancer, Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Anna T Gavin
- Northern Ireland Cancer Registry, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Eva Grunfeld
- Health Services Research Program, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Harland
- Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Registry, CancerCare Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Jatinderpal Kalsi
- Gynaecological Cancer Research Centre, Women's Cancer, Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Rebecca-Jane Law
- North Wales Centre for Primary Care Research, Bangor University, Wrexham, UK
| | - Yulan Lin
- European Palliative Care Research Centre (PRC), Department of Oncology, Oslo, Norway
| | - Donna Turner
- Population Oncology, Cancer Care Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Richard D Neal
- Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Victoria White
- School of Psychology Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
- Centre for Behavioral Research in Cancer, Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Samantha Harrison
- International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership, Cancer Research UK, Stratford, UK
| | - Irene Reguilon
- International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership, Cancer Research UK, Stratford, UK
| | - Charlotte Lynch
- International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership, Cancer Research UK, Stratford, UK
| | - Peter Vedsted
- International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership, Cancer Research UK, Stratford, UK
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The Performance of HE4 Alone and in Combination with CA125 for the Detection of Ovarian Cancer in an Enriched Primary Care Population. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14092124. [PMID: 35565253 PMCID: PMC9101616 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14092124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Human epididymis 4 (HE4) is a promising ovarian cancer biomarker, but it has not been evaluated in primary care. In this prospective observational study, we investigated the diagnostic accuracy of HE4 alone and in combination with CA125 for the detection of ovarian cancer in symptomatic women attending primary care. General practitioner (GP)-requested CA125 samples were tested for HE4 at a large teaching hospital in Manchester, and cancer outcomes were tracked for 12 months. We found a low incidence of ovarian cancer in primary care; thus, the cohort was enriched with pre-surgical samples from 81 ovarian cancer patients. The Risk of Ovarian Malignancy Algorithm (ROMA) was calculated using age (</>51) as a surrogate for menopause. Conventional diagnostic accuracy metrics were determined. A total of 1229 patients were included; 82 had ovarian cancer. Overall, ROMA performed best (AUC-0.96 (95%CI: 0.94−0.98, p = <0.001)). In women under 50 years, the combination of CA125 and HE4 (either marker positive) was superior (sensitivity: 100% (95%CI: 81.5−100.0), specificity: 80.1% (95%CI 76.7−83.1)). In women over 50, ROMA performed best (sensitivity: 84.4% (95%CI: 73.1−92.2), specificity: 87.2% (95%CI 84.1−90)). HE4 and ROMA may improve ovarian cancer detection in primary care, particularly for women under 50 years, in whom diagnosis is challenging. Validation in a larger primary care cohort is required.
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Huepenbecker SP, Sun CC, Fu S, Zhao H, He W, Primm K, Giordano SH, Meyer LA. Temporal trends of healthcare system use between symptomatic presentation and ovarian cancer diagnosis in the United States. Int J Gynecol Cancer 2022; 32:899-905. [PMID: 35331992 DOI: 10.1136/ijgc-2021-003219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe trends in healthcare system use over time between onset of classic ovarian cancer symptoms and ovarian cancer diagnosis in the United States. METHODS A population-based study of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare database was conducted on patients aged ≥66 years with stage II-IV epithelial ovarian cancer between 1992 and 2015 with at least one of the following diagnosis codes: abdominal pain, bloating, difficulty eating, and/or urinary symptoms. The outcomes were frequency of visit type, frequency of diagnostic modality, and Medicare reimbursement between first symptomatic claim and cancer diagnosis. Jonckheere-Terpstra and Cochran-Armitage tests were used to evaluate trends over time. RESULTS Among 13 872 women, 13 541 (97.6%) had outpatient, 6466 (46.6%) had inpatient, and 4906 (35.4%) had emergency room visits. The frequency of outpatient (p<0.001) and emergency room visits (p<0.001) increased while the frequency of inpatient visits (p<0.001) decreased between 1992 and 2015. The median number of outpatient visits (p<0.001) and physician specialties seen (p<0.001) increased over time. The median hospital length of stay decreased from 10 days in 1992 to 5 days in 2015 (p<0.001). Between 1992 and 2015, the frequency of ultrasound decreased (p<0.001) while the frequency of computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography imaging, and cancer antigen 125 tumor immunoassay increased (p<0.001). Median monthly total (p<0.001), inpatient (p<0.001), and outpatient (p=0.006) reimbursements decreased while emergency room reimbursements increased (p<0.001) over time. CONCLUSION Healthcare reimbursement between symptomatic presentation and ovarian cancer diagnosis has decreased over time and may reflect the trends in fewer and shorter hospitalizations and increased use of emergency and outpatient management during the evaluation of symptoms of women with ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah P Huepenbecker
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Charlotte C Sun
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Shuangshuang Fu
- Department of Health Services Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.,Becton Dickinson and Company, Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, USA
| | - Hui Zhao
- Department of Health Services Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Weiguo He
- Department of Health Services Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.,Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Michigan, USA
| | - Kristin Primm
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Sharon H Giordano
- Department of Health Services Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Larissa A Meyer
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
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Huepenbecker SP, Sun CC, Fu S, Zhao H, Primm K, Giordano SH, Meyer LA. Factors impacting the time to ovarian cancer diagnosis based on classic symptom presentation in the United States. Cancer 2021; 127:4151-4160. [PMID: 34347287 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.33829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with ovarian cancer often present with late-stage disease and nonspecific symptoms, but little is known about factors affecting the time to diagnosis (TTD) in the United States. METHODS A retrospective, population-based study of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare database was conducted. It included women 66 years old or older with stage II to IV epithelial ovarian cancer with at least 1 code for abdominal/pelvic pain, bloating, difficulty eating, or urinary symptoms within 1 year of the cancer diagnosis. TTD was defined from the first claim with a prespecified symptom to the ovarian cancer diagnosis. Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to assess for differences in TTD by group medians. Univariate and generalized linear models with a log-link function evaluated TTD by covariables. RESULTS For the 13,872 women analyzed, the mean and median times to diagnosis were 2.9 and 1.1 months, respectively. The median TTD differed significantly by first symptom (P < .001), number of symptoms (P < .001), and first physician specialty seen (P < .001). In a multivariable analysis, TTD differed significantly according to race/ethnicity (P < .001), geographic region (P = .001), urban-rural location (P = .031), emergency room presentation (P < .001), and number of specialties seen (P < .001). A shorter TTD was associated with a diagnosis in 2006-2010 (relative risk [RR], 0.92; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.87-0.98) or 2011-2015 (RR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.81-0.93) in comparison with 1992-1999. CONCLUSIONS The time from a symptomatic presentation to care to a diagnosis of ovarian cancer is influenced by clinical and demographic variables. This study's findings reinforce the importance of educating all physicians on ovarian cancer symptoms to aid in diagnosis. LAY SUMMARY Ovarian cancer is often diagnosed once disease has spread because the classic symptoms of ovarian cancer-abdominal or pelvic pain, bloating, difficulty eating, and urinary issues-can be mistaken for other problems. This study examined the time between when women with classic ovarian cancer symptoms went to a physician and when they received a cancer diagnosis in a large database population. The authors found that the time to diagnosis differed according to the type and number of symptoms and what type of physician a woman saw as well as factors such as race, geographic location, and year of diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah P Huepenbecker
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Charlotte C Sun
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Shuangshuang Fu
- Department of Health Services Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Hui Zhao
- Department of Health Services Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Kristin Primm
- Department of Epidemiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Sharon H Giordano
- Department of Health Services Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Larissa A Meyer
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
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Could Ovarian Cancer Prediction Models Improve the Triage of Symptomatic Women in Primary Care? A Modelling Study Using Routinely Collected Data. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13122886. [PMID: 34207611 PMCID: PMC8228892 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13122886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Earlier detection of ovarian cancer has the potential to improve patient outcomes, including survival. However, determining which women presenting in primary care to refer for specialist assessment and investigation is a clinical dilemma. In this study, we used routinely collected English primary care data from 29,962 women with symptoms of possible ovarian cancer who were tested for the ovarian cancer biomarker CA125. We developed diagnostic prediction models to estimate the probability of the disease. A relatively simple model, consisting of age and CA125 level, performed well for the identification of ovarian cancer. Including additional risk factors within the model did not materially improve model performance. Following further validation, this model could be used to help triage symptomatic women in primary care based on their risk of undiagnosed ovarian cancer, identifying those at high risk for urgent specialist investigation and those at lower (but still elevated) risk for non-urgent investigation or monitoring. Abstract CA125 is widely used as an initial investigation in women presenting with symptoms of possible ovarian cancer. We sought to develop CA125-based diagnostic prediction models and to explore potential implications of implementing model-based thresholds for further investigation in primary care. This retrospective cohort study used routinely collected primary care and cancer registry data from symptomatic, CA125-tested women in England (2011–2014). A total of 29,962 women were included, of whom 279 were diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Logistic regression was used to develop two models to estimate ovarian cancer probability: Model 1 consisted of age and CA125 level; Model 2 incorporated further risk factors. Model discrimination (AUC) was evaluated using 10-fold cross-validation. The sensitivity and specificity of various model risk thresholds (≥1% to ≥3%) were compared with that of the current CA125 cut-off (≥35 U/mL). Model 1 exhibited excellent discrimination (AUC: 0.94) on cross-validation. The inclusion of additional variables (Model 2) did not improve performance. At a risk threshold of ≥1%, Model 1 exhibited greater sensitivity (86.4% vs. 78.5%) but lower specificity (89.1% vs. 94.5%) than CA125 (≥35 U/mL). Applying the ≥1% model threshold to the cohort in place of the current CA125 cut-off, 1 in every 74 additional women identified had ovarian cancer. Following external validation, Model 1 could be used as part of a ‘risk-based triage’ system in which women at high risk of undiagnosed ovarian cancer are selected for urgent specialist investigation, while women at ‘low risk but not no risk’ are offered non-urgent investigation or interval CA125 re-testing. Such an approach has the potential to expedite ovarian cancer diagnosis, but further research is needed to evaluate the clinical impact and health–economic implications.
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Difficulties in Accessing Cancer Care in a Small Island State: A Community-Based Pilot Study of Cancer Survivors in Saint Lucia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18094770. [PMID: 33947123 PMCID: PMC8124473 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18094770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 04/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Developing robust systems for cancer care delivery is essential to reduce the high cancer mortality in small island developing states (SIDS). Indigenous data are scarce, but community-based cancer research can inform care in SIDS where formal research capacity is lacking, and we describe the experiences of cancer survivors in Saint Lucia in accessing health services. Purposive and snowball sampling was used to constitute a sample of survivors for interviews. Subjects were interviewed with a questionnaire regarding socio-demographics, clinical characteristics, health services accessed (physicians, tests, treatment), and personal appraisal of experience. We recruited 50 survivors (13 men, 37 women). Only 52% of first presentations were with general practitioners. The mean turnaround for biopsy results in Saint Lucia was three times longer than overseas (p = 0.0013). Approximately half of survivors commenced treatment more than one month following diagnosis (median of 32 days, IQR 19-86 days), and 56% of survivors traveled out-of-country for treatment. Most survivors (60%) paid for care with family/friends support, followed by savings and medical insurance (38% each). In conclusion, cancer survivors in Saint Lucia are faced with complex circumstances, including access-to-care and health consequences. This study can guide future research, and possibly guide practice improvements in the near term.
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Funston G, Hardy V, Abel G, Crosbie EJ, Emery J, Hamilton W, Walter FM. Identifying Ovarian Cancer in Symptomatic Women: A Systematic Review of Clinical Tools. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12123686. [PMID: 33302525 PMCID: PMC7764009 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12123686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Most women with ovarian cancer are diagnosed after they develop symptoms—identifying symptomatic women earlier has the potential to improve outcomes. Tools, ranging from simple symptom checklists to diagnostic prediction models that incorporate tests and risk factors, have been developed to help identify women at increased risk of undiagnosed ovarian cancer. In this review, we systematically identified studies evaluating these tools and then compared the reported diagnostic performance of tools. All included studies had some quality concerns and most tools had only been evaluated in a single study. However, four tools were evaluated in multiple studies and showed moderate diagnostic performance, with relatively little difference in performance between tools. While encouraging, further large and well-conducted studies are needed to ensure these tools are acceptable to patients and clinicians, are cost-effective and facilitate the early diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Abstract In the absence of effective ovarian cancer screening programs, most women are diagnosed following the onset of symptoms. Symptom-based tools, including symptom checklists and risk prediction models, have been developed to aid detection. The aim of this systematic review was to identify and compare the diagnostic performance of these tools. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane CENTRAL, without language restriction, for relevant studies published between 1 January 2000 and 3 March 2020. We identified 1625 unique records and included 16 studies, evaluating 21 distinct tools in a range of settings. Fourteen tools included only symptoms; seven also included risk factors or blood tests. Four tools were externally validated—the Goff Symptom Index (sensitivity: 56.9–83.3%; specificity: 48.3–98.9%), a modified Goff Symptom Index (sensitivity: 71.6%; specificity: 88.5%), the Society of Gynaecologic Oncologists consensus criteria (sensitivity: 65.3–71.5%; specificity: 82.9–93.9%) and the QCancer Ovarian model (10% risk threshold—sensitivity: 64.1%; specificity: 90.1%). Study heterogeneity precluded meta-analysis. Given the moderate accuracy of several tools on external validation, they could be of use in helping to select women for ovarian cancer investigations. However, further research is needed to assess the impact of these tools on the timely detection of ovarian cancer and on patient survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garth Funston
- The Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB1 8RN, UK; (V.H.); (J.E.); (F.M.W.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Victoria Hardy
- The Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB1 8RN, UK; (V.H.); (J.E.); (F.M.W.)
| | - Gary Abel
- University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter EX1 1TX, UK; (G.A.); (W.H.)
| | - Emma J. Crosbie
- Gynaecological Oncology Research Group, Division of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9WL, UK;
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Manchester M13 9WL, UK
| | - Jon Emery
- The Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB1 8RN, UK; (V.H.); (J.E.); (F.M.W.)
- Centre for Cancer Research and Department of General Practice, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Willie Hamilton
- University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter EX1 1TX, UK; (G.A.); (W.H.)
| | - Fiona M. Walter
- The Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB1 8RN, UK; (V.H.); (J.E.); (F.M.W.)
- Centre for Cancer Research and Department of General Practice, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
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Dilley J, Burnell M, Gentry-Maharaj A, Ryan A, Neophytou C, Apostolidou S, Karpinskyj C, Kalsi J, Mould T, Woolas R, Singh N, Widschwendter M, Fallowfield L, Campbell S, Skates SJ, McGuire A, Parmar M, Jacobs I, Menon U. Ovarian cancer symptoms, routes to diagnosis and survival - Population cohort study in the 'no screen' arm of the UK Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening (UKCTOCS). Gynecol Oncol 2020; 158:316-322. [PMID: 32561125 PMCID: PMC7453382 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2020.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE There are widespread efforts to increase symptom awareness of 'pelvic/abdominal pain, increased abdominal size/bloating, difficulty eating/feeling full and urinary frequency/urgency' in an attempt to diagnose ovarian cancer earlier. Long-term survival of women with these symptoms adjusted for known prognostic factors is yet to be determined. This study explored the association of symptoms, routes and interval to diagnosis and long-term survival in a population-based cohort of postmenopausal women diagnosed with invasive epithelial tubo-ovarian cancer (iEOC) in the 'no screen' (control) UKCTOCS arm. METHODS Of 101,299 women in the control arm, 574 were confirmed on outcome review to have iEOC between randomisation (2001-2005) and 31 December 2014. Data was extracted from medical notes and electronic records. A multivariable model was fitted for individual symptoms, time interval from symptom onset to diagnosis, route to diagnosis, speciality, morphological Type, age at diagnosis, year of diagnosis (period effect), stage, primary treatment, and residual disease. RESULTS Women presenting with symptoms listed in the NICE guidelines (HR1.48, 95%CI1.16-1.89, p = 0.001) or the modified Goff Index (HR1·68, 95%CI1·32-2.13, p < 0.0001) had significantly worse survival than those who did not. Each additional presenting symptom decreased survival (HR1·20, 95%CI1·12-1·28, p < 0.0001). In multivariable analysis, in addition to advanced stage, increasing residual disease and inadequate primary treatment, abdominal pain and loss of appetite/feeling full were significantly associated with increased mortality. CONCLUSIONS The ovarian cancer symptom indices identify postmenopausal women with a poorer prognosis. This study however cannot exclude the possibility of better outcomes in those who are aware and act on their symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Dilley
- MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, Institute of Clinical Trials & Methodology, University College London, UK
| | - Matthew Burnell
- MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, Institute of Clinical Trials & Methodology, University College London, UK
| | - Aleksandra Gentry-Maharaj
- MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, Institute of Clinical Trials & Methodology, University College London, UK
| | - Andy Ryan
- MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, Institute of Clinical Trials & Methodology, University College London, UK
| | - Christina Neophytou
- MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, Institute of Clinical Trials & Methodology, University College London, UK
| | - Sophia Apostolidou
- MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, Institute of Clinical Trials & Methodology, University College London, UK
| | - Chloe Karpinskyj
- MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, Institute of Clinical Trials & Methodology, University College London, UK
| | | | - Tim Mould
- University College London Hospital, UK
| | | | | | | | - Lesley Fallowfield
- Sussex Health Outcomes Research and Education in Cancer (SHORE-C), Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, UK
| | | | - Steven J Skates
- Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, USA
| | | | - Mahesh Parmar
- MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, Institute of Clinical Trials & Methodology, University College London, UK
| | - Ian Jacobs
- University of New South Wales, Australia
| | - Usha Menon
- MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, Institute of Clinical Trials & Methodology, University College London, UK.
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10
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Baun MLL, Jensen H, Falborg AZ, Heje HN, Petersen LK, Vedsted P. Ovarian cancer suspicion, urgent referral and time to diagnosis in Danish general practice: a population-based study. Fam Pract 2019; 36:751-757. [PMID: 31046091 DOI: 10.1093/fampra/cmz013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ovarian cancer (OC) survival rates are lower in Denmark than in countries with similar health care. Prolonged time to diagnosis could be a contributing factor. The Danish cancer patient pathway (CPP) for OC was introduced in 2009. It provides GPs with fast access to diagnostic work-up. OBJECTIVE To investigate cancer suspicion and pathway use among GPs and to explore the association between these factors and the diagnostic intervals (DIs). METHODS We conducted a national population-based cohort study using questionnaires and national registers. RESULTS Of the 313 women with participating GPs, 91% presented with symptoms within 1 year of diagnosis, 61% presented vague non-specific symptoms and 62% were diagnosed with late-stage disease. Cancer was suspected in 39%, and 36% were referred to a CPP. Comorbidity [prevalence ratio (PR): 0.53, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.29-0.98] and no cancer suspicion (PR: 0.35, 95% CI: 0.20-0.60) were associated with no referral to a CPP. The median DI was 36 days. Long DIs were associated with no cancer suspicion (median DI: 59 versus 20 days) and no referral to a CPP (median DI: 42 versus 23 days). CONCLUSIONS Nine in ten patients attended general practice with symptoms before diagnosis. Two-thirds initially presented with vague non-specific symptoms were less likely to be referred to a CPP and had longer DIs than women suspected of cancer. These findings underline the importance of supplementing the CPP with additional accelerated diagnostic routes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Louise L Baun
- Research Centre for Cancer Diagnosis in Primary Care (CaP), Research Unit for General Practice, Aarhus C, Denmark.,Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Henry Jensen
- Research Centre for Cancer Diagnosis in Primary Care (CaP), Research Unit for General Practice, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Alina Z Falborg
- Research Centre for Cancer Diagnosis in Primary Care (CaP), Research Unit for General Practice, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Hanne N Heje
- Research Centre for Cancer Diagnosis in Primary Care (CaP), Research Unit for General Practice, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Lone K Petersen
- Department of Gynaecology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Peter Vedsted
- Research Centre for Cancer Diagnosis in Primary Care (CaP), Research Unit for General Practice, Aarhus C, Denmark
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11
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Funston G, Van Melle M, Baun MLL, Jensen H, Helsper C, Emery J, Crosbie EJ, Thompson M, Hamilton W, Walter FM. Variation in the initial assessment and investigation for ovarian cancer in symptomatic women: a systematic review of international guidelines. BMC Cancer 2019; 19:1028. [PMID: 31676000 PMCID: PMC6823968 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-019-6211-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2019] [Accepted: 09/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Women with ovarian cancer can present with a variety of symptoms and signs, and an increasing range of tests are available for their investigation. A number of international guidelines provide advice for the initial assessment of possible ovarian cancer in symptomatic women. We systematically identified and reviewed the consistency and quality of these documents. Methods MEDLINE, Embase, guideline-specific databases and professional organisation websites were searched in March 2018 for relevant clinical guidelines, consensus statements and clinical pathways, produced by professional or governmental bodies. Two reviewers independently extracted data and appraised documents using the Appraisal for Guidelines and Research Evaluation 2 (AGREEII) tool. Results Eighteen documents from 11 countries in six languages met selection criteria. Methodological quality varied with two guidance documents achieving an AGREEII score ≥ 50% in all six domains and 10 documents scoring ≥50% for “Rigour of development” (range: 7–96%). All guidance documents provided advice on possible symptoms of ovarian cancer, although the number of symptoms included in documents ranged from four to 14 with only one symptom (bloating/abdominal distension/increased abdominal size) appearing in all documents. Fourteen documents provided advice on physical examinations but varied in both the examinations they recommended and the physical signs they included. Fifteen documents provided recommendations on initial investigations. Transabdominal/transvaginal ultrasound and the serum biomarker CA125 were the most widely advocated initial tests. Five distinct testing strategies were identified based on the number of tests and the order of testing advocated: ‘single test’, ‘dual testing’, ‘sequential testing’, ‘multiple testing options’ and ‘no testing’. Conclusions Recommendations on the initial assessment and investigation for ovarian cancer in symptomatic women vary considerably between international guidance documents. This variation could contribute to differences in the way symptomatic women are assessed and investigated between countries. Greater research is needed to evaluate the assessment and testing approaches advocated by different guidelines and their impact on ovarian cancer detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garth Funston
- The Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Marije Van Melle
- The Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Marie-Louise Ladegaard Baun
- Research Centre for Cancer Diagnosis in Primary Care, Research Unit for General Practice, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Henry Jensen
- Research Centre for Cancer Diagnosis in Primary Care, Research Unit for General Practice, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Charles Helsper
- Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Care, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Jon Emery
- Centre for Cancer Research and Department of General Practice, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Emma J Crosbie
- Gynaecological Oncology Research Group, Division of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Matthew Thompson
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Willie Hamilton
- University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Fiona M Walter
- The Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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12
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Ladegaard Baun ML, Falborg AZ, Hjertholm P, Petersen LK, Vedsted P. Ovarian cancer stage, variation in transvaginal ultrasound examination rates and the impact of an urgent referral pathway: A national ecological cohort study. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2019; 98:1540-1548. [PMID: 31355418 DOI: 10.1111/aogs.13693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Revised: 06/16/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The aim of this study was to determine whether variation in transvaginal ultrasound examination rates in Danish general practice populations is associated with ovarian cancer outcomes, and to explore the impact of the introduction of a cancer patient pathway for ovarian cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS We performed a national register-based cohort study of gynecological cancer-free women aged 40 years or above, living in Denmark and listed with a specific general practitioner in 2004-2014. Practice populations were divided into quartiles according to the general practitioners' transvaginal ultrasound propensity in the preceding year. Associations between transvaginal ultrasound rates and ovarian cancer outcomes were analyzed using Poisson and logistic regression. RESULTS We included 2769 general practices with 1 739 422 listed women, of whom 5325 were diagnosed with ovarian cancer during the study period. Practices varied twofold in transvaginal ultrasound rates before and after the implementation of the cancer patient pathway. Before the cancer patient pathway was introduced, women listed with practices with the highest transvaginal ultrasound rates were diagnosed with earlier stages of ovarian cancer (odds ratio 1.38, 95% confidence interval 1.06 to 1.81) and had a higher proportion of borderline tumors (incidence rate ratio 1.38, 95% confidence interval 1.10 to 1.75) compared with women least exposed to transvaginal ultrasound. After the cancer patient pathway, no significant differences were identified between the groups. CONCLUSIONS Before the cancer patient pathway, women exposed most to transvaginal ultrasound were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with early stage ovarian cancer compared with those least exposed to transvaginal ultrasound. After the cancer patient pathway was implemented, the difference disappeared. This suggests that increased awareness and access to transvaginal ultrasound is useful for diagnosing early-stage ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Louise Ladegaard Baun
- Department of Public Health, Research Center for Cancer Diagnosis in Primary Care, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Research Unit for General Practice, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Alina Z Falborg
- Department of Public Health, Research Center for Cancer Diagnosis in Primary Care, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Research Unit for General Practice, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Peter Hjertholm
- Department of Public Health, Research Center for Cancer Diagnosis in Primary Care, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Research Unit for General Practice, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Lone K Petersen
- Department of Gynecology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Peter Vedsted
- Department of Public Health, Research Center for Cancer Diagnosis in Primary Care, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Research Unit for General Practice, Aarhus, Denmark
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13
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Patient and primary care delays in the diagnostic pathway of gynaecological cancers: a systematic review of influencing factors. Br J Gen Pract 2019; 69:e106-e111. [PMID: 30642909 PMCID: PMC6355279 DOI: 10.3399/bjgp19x700781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gynaecological cancers are the second most common female cancer type, with survival rates in the UK lower than in many comparable countries. A potentially important factor in the UK's poorer cancer outcomes is diagnostic delay; gynaecological cancers are the cancer type most likely to be affected by less timely diagnosis. AIM To examine current evidence for factors that contribute to patient and primary care delays in the diagnostic pathway of gynaecological cancer. DESIGN AND SETTING A systematic review of the available literature. METHOD PRISMA guidelines were followed. MEDLINE and Embase databases and the Cochrane Library were searched using three terms: primary care; gynaecological cancer; and delay. Citation lists of all identified articles were searched. Two authors independently screened the titles, abstracts, and full texts of publications. Data extraction was performed by one author and quality assured by a second reviewer in a 20% sample of selected articles. Synthesis was narrative. RESULTS A total of 1253 references was identified, of which 37 met the inclusion criteria. Factors associated with delayed diagnosis were categorised as either patient factors (patient demographics, symptoms or knowledge, and presentation to the GP) or primary care factors (doctor factors: patient demographics, symptoms or knowledge, and referral process); and system factors (such as limited access to investigations). CONCLUSION Delayed diagnosis in the patient and primary care intervals of the diagnostic journey of gynaecological cancer is complex and multifactorial. This review identifies areas of future research that could lead to interventions to enable prompter diagnosis of gynaecological cancers.
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14
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Nicholson BD, Lee MM, Wijeratne D, James T, Shine B, Oke JL. Trends in Cancer Antigen 125 testing 2003-2014: A primary care population-based cohort study using laboratory data. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) 2018; 28:e12914. [DOI: 10.1111/ecc.12914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2017] [Revised: 07/23/2018] [Accepted: 08/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Brian D. Nicholson
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences; University of Oxford; Oxford UK
| | - Mei-Man Lee
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences; University of Oxford; Oxford UK
| | - Dileep Wijeratne
- Department of Gynecology; St James' University Hospital, Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust; Leeds UK
| | - Tim James
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry; John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals Trust; Oxford UK
| | - Brian Shine
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry; John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals Trust; Oxford UK
| | - Jason L. Oke
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences; University of Oxford; Oxford UK
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15
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Abel GA, Mendonca SC, McPhail S, Zhou Y, Elliss-Brookes L, Lyratzopoulos G. Emergency diagnosis of cancer and previous general practice consultations: insights from linked patient survey data. Br J Gen Pract 2017; 67:e377-e387. [PMID: 28438775 PMCID: PMC5442953 DOI: 10.3399/bjgp17x690869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2016] [Accepted: 01/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emergency diagnosis of cancer is common and aetiologically complex. The proportion of emergency presenters who have consulted previously with relevant symptoms is uncertain. AIM To examine how many patients with cancer, who were diagnosed as emergencies, have had previous primary care consultations with relevant symptoms; and among those, to examine how many had multiple consultations. DESIGN AND SETTING Secondary analysis of patient survey data from the 2010 English Cancer Patient Experience Survey (CPES), previously linked to population-based data on diagnostic route. METHOD For emergency presenters with 18 different cancers, associations were examined for two outcomes (prior GP consultation status; and 'three or more consultations' among prior consultees) using logistic regression. RESULTS Among 4647 emergency presenters, 1349 (29%) reported no prior consultations, being more common in males (32% versus 25% in females, P<0.001), older (44% in ≥85 versus 30% in 65-74-year-olds, P<0.001), and the most deprived (35% versus 25% least deprived, P = 0.001) patients; and highest/lowest for patients with brain cancer (46%) and mesothelioma (13%), respectively (P<0.001 for overall variation by cancer site). Among 3298 emergency presenters with prior consultations, 1356 (41%) had three or more consultations, which were more likely in females (P<0.001), younger (P<0.001), and non-white patients (P = 0.017) and those with multiple myeloma, and least likely for patients with leukaemia (P<0.001). CONCLUSION Contrary to suggestions that emergency presentations represent missed diagnoses, about one-third of emergency presenters (particularly those in older and more deprived groups) have no prior GP consultations. Furthermore, only about one-third report multiple (three or more) consultations, which are more likely in 'harder-to-suspect' groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary A Abel
- University of Exeter Medical School (Primary Care), Exeter and Cambridge Centre for Health Services Research, Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Cambridge
| | - Silvia C Mendonca
- Cambridge Centre for Health Services Research, Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Cambridge
| | - Sean McPhail
- Public Health England National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service, London
| | - Yin Zhou
- Cambridge Centre for Health Services Research, Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Cambridge
| | - Lucy Elliss-Brookes
- Public Health England National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service, London
| | - Georgios Lyratzopoulos
- Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London and Cambridge Centre for Health Services Research, Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Cambridge
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16
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Bailey SER, Ukoumunne OC, Shephard E, Hamilton W. How useful is thrombocytosis in predicting an underlying cancer in primary care? a systematic review. Fam Pract 2017; 34:4-10. [PMID: 27681942 DOI: 10.1093/fampra/cmw100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although the association between raised platelet count (thrombocytosis) and cancer has been reported in primary and secondary care studies, UK GPs are unaware of it, and it is insufficiently evidenced for laboratories to identify and warn of it. This systematic review aimed to identify and collate evidence from studies that have investigated thrombocytosis as an early marker of cancer in primary care. METHODS EMBASE (OvidSP), Medline (Ovid), Web of Science and The Cochrane Library were searched for relevant studies. Eligible studies had reported estimates of the association between thrombocytosis and cancer, in adults aged ≥40 in a primary care setting. Raw data from included studies were used to calculate positive predictive values and likelihood ratios (LRs) for cancer. RESULTS Nine case-control studies were identified. Study quality was judged to be high. Included studies reported on the following cancer sites: colorectal, lung, ovary, bladder, kidney, pancreas, oesophago-gastric, uterus and breast. LRs indicated that thrombocytosis was a predictor of cancer in all sites except breast. In a consulting population, thrombocytosis is most highly predictive of lung and colorectal cancer. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that patients with thrombocytosis in primary care have an increased risk of cancer, and that some, but not all, cancers have raised platelets as an early marker. This finding is expected to be of use in primary care, for GPs receiving blood test results unexpectedly showing high platelet counts. Further research is needed to identify the cancers that are most strongly associated with thrombocytosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E R Bailey
- Primary Care Diagnostics, University of Exeter Medical School, College House, St Luke's Campus, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon EX1 2LU, UK and
| | - Obi C Ukoumunne
- PenCLAHRC, University of Exeter Medical School, South Cloisters, St Luke's Campus, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon EX1 2LU, UK
| | - Elizabeth Shephard
- Primary Care Diagnostics, University of Exeter Medical School, College House, St Luke's Campus, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon EX1 2LU, UK and
| | - Willie Hamilton
- Primary Care Diagnostics, University of Exeter Medical School, College House, St Luke's Campus, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon EX1 2LU, UK and
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17
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Zhou Y, Abel GA, Hamilton W, Pritchard-Jones K, Gross CP, Walter FM, Renzi C, Johnson S, McPhail S, Elliss-Brookes L, Lyratzopoulos G. Diagnosis of cancer as an emergency: a critical review of current evidence. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2017; 14:45-56. [PMID: 27725680 DOI: 10.1038/nrclinonc.2016.155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Many patients with cancer are diagnosed through an emergency presentation, which is associated with inferior clinical and patient-reported outcomes compared with those of patients who are diagnosed electively or through screening. Reducing the proportion of patients with cancer who are diagnosed as emergencies is, therefore, desirable; however, the optimal means of achieving this aim are uncertain owing to the involvement of different tumour, patient and health-care factors, often in combination. Most relevant evidence relates to patients with colorectal or lung cancer in a few economically developed countries, and defines emergency presentations contextually (that is, whether patients presented to emergency health-care services and/or received emergency treatment shortly before their diagnosis) as opposed to clinically (whether patients presented with life-threatening manifestations of their cancer). Consistent inequalities in the risk of emergency presentations by patient characteristics and cancer type have been described, but limited evidence is available on whether, and how, such presentations can be prevented. Evidence on patients' symptoms and health-care use before presentation as an emergency is sparse. In this Review, we describe the extent, causes and implications of a diagnosis of cancer following an emergency presentation, and provide recommendations for public health and health-care interventions, and research efforts aimed at addressing this under-researched aspect of cancer diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin Zhou
- The Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Public Health, Forvie Site, Robinson Way, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SR, UK
| | - Gary A Abel
- The Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Public Health, Forvie Site, Robinson Way, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SR, UK
- University of Exeter, College House, St Luke's Campus, Exeter EX2 4TE, UK
| | - Willie Hamilton
- University of Exeter, College House, St Luke's Campus, Exeter EX2 4TE, UK
| | - Kathy Pritchard-Jones
- Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK
- University College London Partners Academic Health Science Network, 170 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 7HA, UK
| | - Cary P Gross
- Section of General Medicine, Cancer Outcomes Public Policy and Effectiveness Research (COPPER) Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06519, USA
| | - Fiona M Walter
- The Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Public Health, Forvie Site, Robinson Way, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SR, UK
| | - Cristina Renzi
- Health Behaviour Research Centre, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London WC1E 7HB, UK
| | - Sam Johnson
- National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service, Public Health England Zone A, 2nd Floor, Skipton House, 80 London Road, London SE1 6LH, UK
| | - Sean McPhail
- National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service, Public Health England Zone A, 2nd Floor, Skipton House, 80 London Road, London SE1 6LH, UK
| | - Lucy Elliss-Brookes
- National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service, Public Health England Zone A, 2nd Floor, Skipton House, 80 London Road, London SE1 6LH, UK
| | - Georgios Lyratzopoulos
- The Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Public Health, Forvie Site, Robinson Way, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SR, UK
- Health Behaviour Research Centre, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London WC1E 7HB, UK
- National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service, Public Health England Zone A, 2nd Floor, Skipton House, 80 London Road, London SE1 6LH, UK
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18
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Methods Used in Economic Evaluations of Testing and Diagnosis for Ovarian Cancer: A Systematic Review. Int J Gynecol Cancer 2016; 26:865-72. [PMID: 27051058 DOI: 10.1097/igc.0000000000000699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE There are multiple tests available that can help diagnose ovarian cancer, and the cost-effective analysis of these diagnostic interventions is essential for making well-informed decisions regarding resource allocation. There are multiple factors that can impact on the conclusions drawn from economic evaluations including test accuracy, the impact of the testing pathway on patient costs and outcomes, and delays along the ovarian cancer test-treat pathway. The objective of this study was to evaluate how test accuracy, the choice of perspective, and delays along the testing and diagnostic pathway have been incorporated in economic evaluations of testing for ovarian cancer. METHODS A systematic review of published literature was undertaken to identify economic evaluations (eg, cost-effectiveness, cost-utility analysis) focused on testing and diagnosis for ovarian cancer. RESULTS Seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Six studies incorporated test accuracy and its impact on patients to some extent. Four studies adopted a societal perspective, but only one considered the costs incurred by patients on the testing and diagnosis pathway. Where delays on the testing pathway were incorporated into the analysis, these were frequently due to false-negative test results leading to delays in patients accessing treatment. Any anxiety that patients might experience as a result of a positive test was not considered in these studies. CONCLUSIONS The impact on patients of receiving a positive test in terms of anxiety and the costs incurred by patients having to attend for testing and diagnosis are rarely considered. Delays along the testing and diagnosis pathway can have a major effect on patient outcomes, and it is important that these are acknowledged in economic evaluations focused on testing. Future economic analysis should incorporate these key determinants in order that diagnostic tests for ovarian cancer can be robustly evaluated.
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19
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Ingeman ML, Ormstrup TE, Vedsted P. Direct-access to abdominal ultrasonic investigation from general practice—the role in earlier cancer diagnosis. Fam Pract 2015; 32:205-10. [PMID: 25715963 DOI: 10.1093/fampra/cmv004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Abdominal ultrasound (US) is a safe and low-cost diagnostic tool for various abdominal symptoms. Direct-access to US from general practice has been suggested as a feasible option to promote earlier cancer diagnosis because abdominal cancer often presents with non-specific and vague symptoms, and the exact location may be difficult to identify on the basis of symptoms alone. OBJECTIVE To describe patterns of use and cancer prevalence in referred patients when providing Danish GPs with direct-access to hospital-based US. METHODS In an observational study, GPs were given the opportunity to either refer patients directly to US or through a waiting-list at Vejle Regional Hospital in Denmark; 701 patients were included between 1 August 2009 and 31 January 2010. Data were retrieved from the local Radiology Information System, GP referrals and the Danish Cancer Registry. RESULTS GPs referred 60% of all patients to direct-access US. Cancer was diagnosed in 19 (2.7%) of the referred patients within 6 months after the US investigation. US gave rise to the suspicion of cancer in 11 of these patients (57.9%); 10 of these had been referred to direct-access US. At least one non-malignant diagnosis resulted from US in 59.5% of the cases, while 37.8% of the cases had no final diagnosis. CONCLUSION The findings in this study might indicate that GPs refer patients assessed to have a higher risk of cancer through direct-access US. The finding was statistically non-significant, and further research is required to confirm this result.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mads Lind Ingeman
- Research Unit for General Practice, Research Centre for Cancer Diagnosis in Primary Care (CaP) and Section of General Medical Practice, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus and
| | - Tina E Ormstrup
- Vejle Regional Hospital, Lillebaelt Hospital, Vejle, Region of Southern Denmark, Denmark
| | - Peter Vedsted
- Research Unit for General Practice, Research Centre for Cancer Diagnosis in Primary Care (CaP) and
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20
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Savage P, Sharkey R, Kua T, Papanastasopoulos P, McDonald-Burrows Z, Hassan S, Probst F, Sanders A, Millington H. Clinical characteristics and outcomes for patients with an initial emergency presentation of malignancy: A 15 month audit of patient level data. Cancer Epidemiol 2015; 39:86-90. [DOI: 10.1016/j.canep.2014.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2014] [Revised: 09/30/2014] [Accepted: 11/01/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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21
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Hess LM, Stehman FB, Method MW, Weathers TD, Gupta P, Schilder JM. Identification of the optimal pathway to reach an accurate diagnosis in the absence of an early detection strategy for ovarian cancer. Gynecol Oncol 2012; 127:564-8. [PMID: 22940492 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2012.08.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2012] [Revised: 08/07/2012] [Accepted: 08/22/2012] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES There is a lack of knowledge about the health care events experienced by individual patients that lead to a definitive diagnosis of ovarian cancer (OC). The goal of this study was to describe the various pathways and to identify an optimal path to accurate diagnosis. METHODS Women who were referred to gynecologic oncology for a suspected OC were enrolled to this study. Medical records (MRs) from all health care providers were obtained from the time the patient recalled first suspecting a health issue through the time of diagnosis to build a decision tree model. A Monte Carlo simulation was conducted of 83,000 patients to identify the optimal pathway to reach diagnosis. RESULTS In the Monte Carlo simulation, gynecologic oncologists and gynecologists accounted for the most efficient diagnosis in over 37.9% and 29.2% of suspected OC cases, respectively, in terms of the least amount of time to reach diagnosis. Gynecologic oncologists were further associated with the fewest health care visits needed to reach diagnosis in 37% of the simulation cases; however, 23% of trials were indifferent to any specific provider. CONCLUSIONS The decision tree provides a more comprehensive view of the complexity in reaching an accurate diagnosis of OC. This analysis was able to identify the health care utilization patterns that underlie the events that occur to reach an accurate diagnosis in the setting of a suspected OC, and was able to identify the most efficient pathways that utilize the fewest health care resources in the least amount of time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Hess
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
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22
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE While the development of an index of clinical symptoms to use for the detection and diagnosis of ovarian cancer is under active investigation, the role of clinical symptoms in survival after the initial diagnosis is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to correlate the type and extent of clinical symptoms with survival outcomes in ovarian cancer. METHODS Medical records of 276 cases of primary epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, and peritoneal cancers were evaluated. Thirty-one symptoms in 5 categories were cataloged. The significance of clinical symptoms in progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) was evaluated. RESULTS Overall, 93.5% of ovarian cancer patients expressed at least 1 symptom at the time of initial diagnosis. The 3 most common symptoms were abdominal pain (40.6%), increased abdominal size (33.7%), and bloating (21.7%). In survival analysis, weight loss (16.3%), nausea/vomiting (13.4%), and lower extremity edema (6.5%) were significantly associated with both decreased PFS and OS (all, P < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, lower extremity edema remained the strongest significant symptom, associated with increased surgical mortality rate, decreased response rate to adjuvant chemotherapy after primary cytoreductive surgery, and diminished survival outcomes (median PFS, 4.9 vs 15.3 months, P < 0.0001; and median OS, 5.9 vs 49.1 months, P < 0.001). Multiple symptoms were associated with poor survival outcomes (individual number of symptom ≤1 vs 2 vs ≥3; median PFS, 26.8 vs 17.4 vs 11.7 months [P < 0.001]; and median OS, 70 vs 41.6 vs 37.2 months [P < 0.001]). CONCLUSIONS Lower extremity edema at initial diagnosis is a strong prognostic indicator of ovarian cancer patient.
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Gilbert L, Basso O, Sampalis J, Karp I, Martins C, Feng J, Piedimonte S, Quintal L, Ramanakumar AV, Takefman J, Grigorie MS, Artho G, Krishnamurthy S. Assessment of symptomatic women for early diagnosis of ovarian cancer: results from the prospective DOvE pilot project. Lancet Oncol 2012; 13:285-91. [PMID: 22257524 DOI: 10.1016/s1470-2045(11)70333-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Around 90% of deaths from ovarian cancer are due to high-grade serous cancer (HGSC), which is frequently diagnosed at an advanced stage. Several cancer organisations made a joint recommendation that all women with specified symptoms of ovarian cancer should be tested with the aim of making an early diagnosis. In the Diagnosing Ovarian Cancer Early (DOvE) study we investigated whether open-access assessment would increase the rate of early-stage diagnosis. METHODS Between May 1, 2008, and April 30, 2011, we enrolled women who were aged 50 years or older and who had symptoms of ovarian cancer. They were offered diagnostic testing with cancer antigen (CA-125) blood test and transvaginal ultrasonography (TVUS) at a central and a satellite open-access centre in Montreal, QC, Canada. We compared demographic characteristics of DOvE patients with those of women in the same age-group in the general population of the area, and compared indicators of disease burden with those in patients with ovarian cancer referred through the usual route to our gynaecological oncology clinic (clinic patients). FINDINGS Among 1455 women assessed, 402 (27·6%) were in the highest-risk age group (≥ 65 years). 239 (16·4%) of 1455 required additional investigations. 22 gynaecological cancers were diagnosed, 11 (50%) of which were invasive ovarian cancers, including nine HGSC. The prevalence of invasive ovarian cancer, therefore, was one per 132 women (0·76%), which is ten times higher than that reported in screening studies. DOvE patients were significantly younger, more educated, and more frequently English speakers than were women in the general population. They also presented with less tumour burden than did the 75 clinic patients (median CA-125 concentration 72 U/mL, 95% CI 12-1190 vs 888 U/mL, 440-1936; p=0·010); Eight (73%) tumours were completely resectable in DOvE patients, compared with 33 (44%) in clinic patients (p=0·075). Seven (78%) of the HGSC in the DOvE group originated outside the ovaries and five were associated with only slightly raised CA-125 concentrations and minimal or no ovarian abnormalities on TVUS. INTERPRETATION The proportion of HGSC that originated outside the ovaries in this study suggests that early diagnosis programmes should aim to identify low-volume disease rather than early-stage disease, and that diagnostic approaches should be modified accordingly. Although testing symptomatic women may result in earlier diagnosis of invasive ovarian cancer, large-scale implementation of this approach is premature. FUNDING Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Montreal General Hospital Foundation, Royal Victoria Hospital Foundation, Cedar's Cancer Institute, and La Fondation du Cancer Monique Malenfant-Pinizzotto.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy Gilbert
- Gynecologic Oncology Unit, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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Seibaek L, Petersen LK, Blaakaer J, Hounsgaard L. Hoping for the best, preparing for the worst: the lived experiences of women undergoing ovarian cancer surgery. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) 2011; 21:360-71. [PMID: 22092927 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2354.2011.01313.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In this study, the lived experiences of women undergoing ovarian cancer surgery were explored, aiming to provide a patient perspective on being newly diagnosed and starting treatment for ovarian cancer. The study period ran from the first visit in the outpatient clinic, till 8 weeks later, when the women had either begun chemotherapy or completed their recovery. Ten women participated in two qualitative research interviews each, before and after surgery. By applying a phenomenological-hermeneutic text interpretation methodology, the findings were systematically identified, put into meaning-structures, interpreted and discussed. This process constituted the theme: 'Hoping for the best, preparing for the worst'. Final diagnostics and treatment start were extensive life events, where life itself was threatened, although hope and will were present. The women intuitively prepared themselves for the diagnosis and treatment. However, the ability to prepare was influenced by personal lifestyle, social conditions, coping strategies, and experiences of hope. The ability to prepare could be strengthened by providing adjusted information, psychosocial support and physical optimisation during the perioperative period. By offering targeted family counselling and taking good care of the women's general health and well-being, hope could be sustained and early cancer rehabilitation initiated.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Seibaek
- Research Unit of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
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25
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Seibaek L, Petersen LK, Blaakaer J, Hounsgaard L. Symptom interpretation and health care seeking in ovarian cancer. BMC WOMENS HEALTH 2011; 11:31. [PMID: 21699682 PMCID: PMC3135550 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6874-11-31] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2010] [Accepted: 06/23/2011] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Background Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death among women suffering from gynaecological malignancies in the Western world. Worldwide, approximately 200,000 women are diagnosed with the disease each year. This article deals with the health care seeking and symptom interpretation process among Danish women, who have a very high mortality rate. Methods The health seeking and symptom interpretation process was analysed via combining study methods. The material consisted of registry data dealing with the use of public health care and hospital services of Danish women, newly diagnosed with ovarian cancer. These results were combined with findings from semi-structured qualitative research interviews on women's bodily experiences with symptom development. Results A number of 663 Danish women with ovarian cancer attended 27 different kinds of primary health care providers in a total of 14,009 visits during 2007. The women also had 6,214 contacts with various hospitals, and obtained 562 different diagnoses. From the main theme "Women's experiences with the onset of symptoms" three sub-themes were identified: "Bodily sensations", "From bodily sensation to symptom", and "Health seeking and treatment start". In all cases the General Practitioner represented the first contact to public health care, acting as gate-keeper to specialist and hospital referral. The women were major users of public health care throughout the diagnostic process and subsequent treatment. All women held personal knowledge concerning the onset of their symptoms. The early symptoms of ovarian cancer might be uncharacteristic and non-disease-specific when interpreted as personal experiences, but they had similarities when analysed together. Conclusions Diagnostic delay in ovarian cancer seems far from being exclusively a medical problem, as the delay proved to be influenced by organisational, cultural, and social factors, too. Initiatives facilitating the diagnostic process and research concerning the selection of individuals for further investigation are indicated. The way in which the women interpreted their symptoms was influenced by their personal experiences, their cultural, and their social background. This became crucial to the diagnostic process. These issues need to be explored through further research on women's experiences during the diagnostic process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lene Seibaek
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, Aarhus, Denmark.
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Barrett J, Sharp DJ, Stapley S, Stabb C, Hamilton W. Pathways to the diagnosis of ovarian cancer in the UK: a cohort study in primary care. BJOG 2010. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2010.02588.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Parkin D, Cruickshank M. Pathways to the diagnosis of ovarian cancer in the UK: a cohort study in primary care. BJOG 2010; 117:1033; author reply 1033-4. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2010.02587.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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