'Confusion' over breast cancer
Breast cancer awareness must improve, charity says
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Monday, 31, Dec 2007 09:26
Just one third of GPs would refer a woman aged under 30 with a lump in her breast who has cause for concern, a survey has found.
This goes against guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) which state that women in this scenario should be referred to a specialist urgently.
Nice also recommends that a woman with breast concerns who has previously had confirmed breast cancer should be referred immediately.
But the survey, conducted by nfpSynergy for the charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer, found that just ten per cent of the 200 GPs questioned would refer women in this situation.
As well as confusion over when to routinely or urgently refer patients, the survey also revealed that many GPs do not proactively discuss breast awareness and screening with women over 50.
Less than a fifth (16 per cent) proactively talk to older females in this age range about breast awareness and signs and symptoms whenever they have an appointment.
Although 84 per cent of GPs think it is appropriate to inform a patient aged over 70 that she can request a free breast screening appointment, just 19 per cent think it is right to so whenever women in this age group have an appointment.
Breakthrough Breast Cancer chief executive Jeremy Hughes said there is a "real need" for breast cancer education, particularly in light of UK breast cancer survival rates being among the lowest in Europe.
He also urged health trusts to achieve a maximum two-week wait for breast referrals, which the Department of Health has pledged to implement by December 2009.
"We know some women referred routinely to a specialist go on to be diagnosed with breast cancer and for any woman, waiting to hear whether or not they have breast cancer is an extremely stressful and worrying time," he said.
"This survey shows how essential a simple two week wait for all breast problem referrals is."
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, with more than 44,000 women and 300 men diagnosed each year.