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1 in 5 bowel cancer patients miss early warning signs

By Ryan Maass

LONDON, Sept. 28 (UPI) -- Approximately 20 percent of bowel cancer patients diagnosed after an emergency should have sought medical attention earlier, according to a study published in the British Journal of Cancer.

Dr. Cristina Renzi from the University College London led research on bowel cancer diagnosis alongside scientists from the London School of Hygeine & Tropical Medicine. The study focused on diagnoses in England from 2005 to 2006, using data gathered from 1,606 patients.

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The study's authors examined a variety of steps in the diagnostic process, including primary care consultations. The goal was to compare patients diagnosed as emergencies to those who took a more preemptive route.

During the study, scientist observed emergency diagnosis occurred in 35 percent of 1,029 colon cancers, and in 15 percent of 577 rectal cancers. Levels of background primary care consultations were similar for both groups. However, the researchers note "alarm symptoms" were recorded less frequently in emergency presenters.

While the authors concluded bowel cancer warning signs such as tumors seem associated with "less typical symptoms," there were earlier opportunities for diagnoses in a fifth of all subjects studied.

Researchers recommend general practitioners be given easier access to specialist advice, which they say will allow them to deliver more accurate diagnoses to their patients.

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