bowel cancer Flashcards
bowel cancer development - polyps
- growths in the lining of the colon or rectum that protrude into the intestinal canal
- They can be benign or adenomatous (benign but may be precancerous)
Bowel cancer signs and symptoms
- A persistent change in bowel habit - emptying bowels more frequently, runner stools
- Blood in the faeces without other symptoms
- Abdominal pain, discomfort or bloating always brought on by eating
predisposing factors
- lack of regular physical exercise
- overweight obese
- alcohol consumption
- Tobacco use
- inflammatory bowel disease such as
Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis - A genetic syndrome such as familial adenomatous polyposis
Bowel Cancer- Symptomatic Patient NICE Guidelines NG12
Patients are referred by their GP using a suspected cancer pathway referral for an appointment within 2 weeks for colorectal cancer if they have symptoms
Bowel cancer symptomatic patients - symptoms
- pt is 40+ with unexplained weight loss/abdominal pain
- 50+ and unexplained
- Aged 60 + with Anaemia, changes in bowel habit
Test taken to assess risk of bowel cancer in symptomatic patients
Faecal immunochemical Test (FIT)
NHS England - Faster Diagnosis Standard
This standard ensures that people are told whether they have cancer or cancer is excluded within 28 days from referral
The faster diagnosis standard intends to
- reduce time between referral and diagnosis
- reduce anxiety
- represents an improvement on the current two-week wait to first appointment target.
Faster Diagnosis Standard 28 days (day 0)
Urgent GP referral (after FIT result)
pt information is provided in primary care
Faster Diagnosis Standard 28 days (by day 7)
Clinical triage by a suitably experienced clinician. (Possibly clinical nurse specialist)
With telephone consultation
Faster Diagnosis Standard 28 days (7-14 days)
straight to test - Colonoscopy or CT colonography
Faster Diagnosis Standard 28 days (14-21 days)
straight to imaging
- Contrast CT of CAP
- MRI of pelvis +/-TRUS (transrectal ultrasound)
Faster Diagnosis Standard 28 days (by day 21)
MDT meeting
Faster Diagnosis Standard 28 days (day 28)
clinic review with CNS and next of kin support
MDT recommendations, treatment options, personalised care and support are discussed
assess fitness and arrange pre-op assessment
which days is cancer likely to be diagnosed or excluded
8-21
After an abnormal Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) what is used to examine the bowels
Flexible sigmoidoscopy (involving sigmoid colon)
Endoscopic colonoscopy
CT colonography