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• 13054

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  O29 - Cancer Control & Epidemiology IV (ID 132)

  • Event: WCLC 2013
  • Type: Oral Abstract Session
  • Track: Prevention & Epidemiology
  • Presentations: 1
  • Moderators:P. Zimmerman, N. Kurimoto
  • Coordinates: 10/30/2013, 10:30 - 12:00, Bayside 103, Level 1

  • 13056

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    O29.02 - Impact of a national Lung Cancer Awareness Campaign in Merseyside (ID 2768)

    10:40 - 10:50  |  Author(s): C. Smyth
    • Abstract
    • Presentation
    • Slides

    Background
    In May 2012 the United Kingdom Department of Health initiated a centrally funded National Lung Cancer Awareness Campaign. This campaign was influenced by encouraging results from local pilot studies, and featured news items and public health awareness adverts in national and local media, including nationwide television and radio exposure, accompanied by celebrity involvement and endorsements. The cost of this initiative has not been disclosed. Liverpool has the highest lung cancer incidence and mortality in England, and our Lung Cancer Unit, providing a service for patients in South Liverpool, is the largest in the Cancer Network and the largest in the country

    Methods
    To assess the impact of the national campaign we have reviewed referrals to our Rapid Access Lung Cancer Service from General Practice via the two week suspected cancer pathway, during the months of April to December 2012; we have also reviewed referrals during the same months in 2011 and 2010. For these time periods we have compared the total number of referrals, the number and proportion of referrals judged as unsuitable for immediate investigation with CT scan and bronchoscopy, the number and stage distribution of cancers diagnosed and the proportion of patients undergoing potentially curative surgery.

    Results
    In the period May to December 2012 a total of 323 patients were referred to our Rapid Access Service; of these, 140 (43%) did not have any features suggestive of a possible lung cancer - these patients were reviewed in a routine chest clinic. A total of 103 patients (32% of referrals in this time period) were diagnosed as having lung cancer. Of these 34 (33%) had stage I or II disease on CT staging and 30 patients (29%) underwent potentially curative surgery. The corresponding figures for 2011 are: total referrals 283, 93 (33%) sent to routine chest clinic, 88 (31%) diagnosed lung cancers, 17 (20%) stage I and II and 16 (18%) potentially curative operations. In May to December 2010 we received 274 referrals. 75 (27%) were referred on to routine chest review. 106 patients (39%) were diagnosed as having lung cancer. 23 (21%) were stage I or II and 24 (23%) underwent potentially curative surgery.

    Conclusion
    In the 8 months following the initiation of a National Lung Cancer Awareness Campaign, the largest lung cancer unit in England recorded a 14% increase in patients referred from General Practice with suspected lung cancer. There was a 17% increase in diagnosed lung cancers, and the percentage of patients undergoing potentially curative surgery for stage I and II disease increased from 18% to 29%. Compared to the same time period in 2010, an additional 6 patients underwent surgery for stage I and II disease in 2012, an increase of 6% in the surgical resection rate. We have observed a beneficial effect from the National Lung Cancer Awareness Campaign, with significant increases in our lung cancer diagnosis rates and the number of patients undergoing curative surgery.

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