28 May 2024
May 2024 Zoom Meeting
Online
Special Zoom - feedback
We recently hosted an extended 90-minute special zoom edition, with four speakers talking about the nuances and subtleties of symptoms and the importance of early diagnosis.
We thank our two GP supporters, Christine and Mary, both affected in their own way by oesophogastric cancer, for sharing their experiences and thoughts, as well as Nick for talking us through the benefits of an early diagnosis, and Sameera for giving us an update on the ongoing Imperial College study looking at a simple to do breath test to detect OG cancers.
It was a varied and fascinating discussion, touching on many aspects of our individual experiences, which just highlighted that whilst we share a common thing, our circumstances mean that treatments and care are quite diverse, and we all have our own unique experience. Here’s a quick summary of some of the points raised:
These are still relatively rare cancers and GPs might only see one or two cases in their careers, so GP awareness and adhering to NHS referral guidance is absolutely key;
The earlier the diagnosis the better the outcome. But as we know many factors influence diagnosis, for example some of us don’t have any symptoms, others are mis-diagnosed from the outset, or cancer missed at the investigatory stage, or we just don’t go to a GP soon enough despite obvious symptoms;
The earliest diagnosis can lead to a cure by simple endoscopic treatment, avoiding the need for chemo/radiotherapy and surgery;
Being aware that things can go wrong at the diagnosis stage is important, a GP might not recognise the symptoms or delay a referral, or misdirect a referral to the wrong place for example ENT (ear, nose, throat). Similarly, diagnosis might go wrong later on, after treatments, should a cancer return. This is a difficult nut to crack, because at the time people do their best with what they know. Being aware and questioning decisions is important;
For later stage cancers, surgery is still regarded the most effective curative route, however advances in chemo/immunotherapies are improving rates of long-term survival without a surgical option;
Being a GP with cancer doesn’t mean they're ahead of the game - cancer affects everyone and an early self-diagnosis or that of a partner is just as difficult to do;
What causes these cancers is still scientifically undetermined, but lifestyle is thought to be one of the risk factors (note ‘causes’ and risk factors are two separate things). Having a busy job, for example being a GP or a doctor in A&E, working long hours focusing on many patients must be hard going. Work is a necessity and the stress that comes with it could be a risk factor;
For partners and carers it's a really tough experience. With high emotions of shock, dread, fear, responsibility and helplessness, it is an incredibly hard time. But being strong and determined, caring, busy and proactive are all things that help us to cope;
And finally, on a high note, breath test research promises to be an option for GPs in the future, for an easy and reliable test for early diagnosis, meaning that many more people will beat this cancer.