Torbay GPs helping with cancer pilot

Liver cancer is hard to spot early

Selected Torbay GP practices are taking part in an NHS pilot program to detect liver cancer early in high-risk patients over 16 years old.

The practices taking part are Brunel Medical Practice, Chelston Hall Surgery, Croft Hall Medical Practice and Southover Medical Practice which, together, form the Torquay Primary Care Network (PCN).

To be eligible for the program, patients must belong to high-risk groups such as those with liver diseases, hepatitis, type 2 diabetes and obesity, or high alcohol consumption.

Practices are contacting patients known to be in the high-risk groups and asking them to make an appointment for an initial blood test.

However, the pilot is keen to involve as many patients as possible. So, if patients fall into the above criteria and have not already been contacted, they should contact their practice for more details.

Depending on the results of an initial blood test, patients will either be offered liver health and wellbeing advice, a second blood test or a fibroscan, which measures inflammation of the liver.

Torquay PCN is one of just 12 early diagnosis pilot programmes being held throughout England.

The results will be used to potentially develop a national programme to help diagnose liver cancer at an early stage as the symptoms of the disease are difficult to detect.

Around 6,200 people are diagnosed with liver cancer annually, with a 50% increase in cases over the past decade.

More than 50% of cases are diagnosed at later stages due to the lack of early symptoms.

Symptoms, if present, are non-specific and may include weight loss, jaundice, itching, nausea, abdominal swelling, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, and shoulder pain.