Timely diagnosis of lung cancer

Timely diagnosis of lung cancer

Timely diagnosis of lung cancer (#104)

Jon Emery ¹

Department of General Practice and Centre for Cancer Research, University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC, Australia

There is growing evidence that earlier diagnosis of lung cancer is an important factor in improving outcomes. There is an extensive literature spanning several decades on the concept of ‘diagnostic delay’ in cancer. This recognises that patient pathways to presentation to healthcare and initial management in primary care are key determinants of cancer patient outcomes. In this presentation I will discuss some of the evidence regarding the effect of time to diagnosis on lung cancer outcomes. I will present The Model of Pathways to Treatment, a theoretical model which underpins much of our research on time to cancer diagnosis. I will also discuss research we have conducted on symptom appraisal and help-seeking for lung cancer in rural Australia and the UK, and trials of interventions aimed at promoting earlier presentation to healthcare and prompt investigation of symptoms in primary care. While we await further consideration about the implementation of lung cancer screening, strategies are needed to ensure people recognise symptoms of lung cancer and, once they seek healthcare, are investigated and treated rapidly to maximise their chance of survival

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Authors contributing to this presentation.

Emery, J

Prof Jon Emery is the Herman Professor of Primary Care Cancer Research at the University of Melbourne, and the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre Primary Care Research and Education Lead. He is also Director of the Cancer Australia Primary Care Collaborative Cancer Clinical Trials Group (PC4), and a Visiting Research Fellow at the Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge. He studied medicine at Cambridge and Oxford and obtained his DPhil at Oxford on computer decision support to assess cancer risk in general practice. His research program applies principles of implementation science and focuses on the role of primary care across the cancer continuum including prevention, early diagnosis and survivorship, aiming to improve the integration of health services. He leads a parallel program of cancer research between Melbourne and Cambridge on cancer screening, risk assessment and early diagnosis. He has published over 270 papers and has been a Chief Investigator on research grants and awards totalling over $40 million and an additional GBP18 million. He sits on several national and international advisory committees related to cancer early detection and survivorship, and cancer research.

Timely diagnosis of lung cancer (#104)

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