Women who present at their GP surgery complaining of persistent bloating and abdominal pain should be offered a blood test to check for ovarian cancer. This is according to guidelines just published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).
Many women complaining of such symptoms are diagnosed as suffering with Irritable Bowel Syndrome and are sent away with dietary advice. Whilst it is clear that not all GPs should diagnose ovarian cancer without first considering other lesser conditions, it should remain in the forefront of their minds as a possible explanation. Alarm bells should ring when the patient describes ongoing episodes of discomfort, feeling full quickly and the frequent need to urinate.
Dubbed “the silent killer”, ovarian cancer kills two thirds of those diagnosed within 5 years. The reason for this is that the disease is so far advanced by diagnosis that the treatment options are simply not available to the patient. On average, women are waiting 18 months between first attending their GP to complain of the symptoms, and diagnosis. By remaining more vigilant, GPs should order a blood test to check the protein levels at an early stage. If raised, the patient should be referred to a Consultant Gynaecologist within 2 weeks for Specialist advice and treatment. If diagnosed and treated early enough, statistics suggest that 9 out of 10 women will survive longer than 5 years. The blood test will cost the NHS £20, a small price to pay for the hundreds of lives that could be saved each year.
The clinical negligence department at Mayo Wynne Baxter frequently meet clients who have experienced a delay in diagnosis of cancer. This is a complex area of law where a number of issues must be thoroughly considered, including how advanced the cancer was at the time of the initial appointment with the GP, the extent of the GP’s advice and how long the cancer was allowed to progress undiagnosed. In some cases the distressing news is that an earlier diagnosis would not have altered the outcome. Clear evidence obtained by NICE, however, shows that a small change in working practices could have a profound effect on the survival rates of patients suffering with ovarian cancer.
If you, or any friend or relative, have concerns that a medical professional has failed to properly diagnose a serious medical condition then do not hesitate to contact a member of the clinical negligence team.
