GPs are failing to refer almost one in three patients with malignant melanoma for urgent tests, prompting a health watchdog to say services must improve.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) has published a new quality standard, setting out the key areas for improving care for skin cancer patients.
It stresses that GPs should refer people with suspected malignant melanoma for an appointment to see a specialist within two weeks through the urgent referral system for suspected cancer.
The latest data from the National Cancer Intelligence Network shows that 56% of malignant melanomas were diagnosed following a two-week referral for suspected cancer in 2013.
Almost a third of cases, however, 29%, were only diagnosed following a normal GP referral to a specialist, which Nice says can take between four and six weeks in some trusts.
Another 2% of cases were diagnosed in A&E and 5% when the person concerned was already a hospital inpatient.
Figures released in July showed that the “sun, sea and sangria” generation of older people is being diagnosed with deadly skin cancer at an alarming rate.
Some 10,583 people aged 55 and over were told they had malignant melanoma in 2014, the most recent figure available, up from about 3,100 cases 20 years ago.
Cancer Research UK said people living longer is contributing to the rise but also blamed cheap package holidays.
It said people who have taken inexpensive package holidays since the 1960s and wanted a tan at all costs were now being diagnosed due to exposure and sunburn.
Rates of melanoma in people aged 55 and over have increased by 155% in the last 20 years, the data showed.
Rates among younger age groups are also rising, but at a slower rate, with a 63% growth in the last 20 years.
The disease kills around 2,000 people in the UK every year.
Non-melanoma skin cancers are also common, with 72,100 new cases diagnosed in the UK in 2013.
GPs fail to refer a third of malignant melanoma cases for urgent tests
Hiç yorum yok:
Yorum Gönder