Simple sponge-on-a-string test replaces need for endoscopy for thousands of NHS patients

NHS England 26th Feb 2024

An innovative test trialled to help diagnose a condition which can lead to oesophageal cancer has reduced the need for invasive endoscopy in thousands of low-risk patients. The NHS pilot has tested over 8,500 patients with the capsule sponge test. Evaluation of a cohort of patients showed almost eight out of 10 patients, who completed a test were discharged without the need for further testing, freeing up endoscopy capacity for higher risk patients and those referred for urgent tests for oesophageal cancer.

Further information – Simple sponge-on-a-string test replaces need for endoscopy for thousands of NHS patients

The Royal College of Radiologists expert panel recommendations for radiotherapy treatment for vulval cancer

The Royal College of Radiologists – Date: 2024

This guidance has been produced by a panel of experts convened by The Royal College of Radiologists.

The RCR audit on vulva radiotherapy in 2020 showed there was a wide variety of practice for vulval cancer radiotherapy and people are often confused by target, margins and dose. The RCR expert panel have developed recommendations which aim to standardise national treatment in vulva contouring across the UK.

Read the guidance – The Royal College of Radiologists expert panel recommendations for radiotherapy treatment for vulval cancer

Quality standard on skin cancer

NICE – January 2024

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has updated their quality standard on skin cancer. It includes a new quality statement on local health promotion activities. This says that integrated care boards should work with local partners to implement strategies to raise awareness of skin cancer and the risks of over-exposure to sunlight and exposure to artificial UV light, particularly for people in at-risk groups.

Further information – Skin cancer

Bowel Cancer State of the Nation report

HQIP – 8th February 2024

Overall, there was an increase in the proportion of patients presenting with stage I or II disease (from 35% in 2017/18 to 42% in 2021/22), and the number of patients presenting with colorectal cancer returned to pre-pandemic levels. Other key findings include:

• There was a reduction in the percentage of patients who died within 90 days of surgery, from 3.1% in 2027/18 to 2.4% in 2021/22
• The percentage of patients with an unplanned readmission after surgery went from 10.8% in 2017/18 to 10.9% in 2021/22
• The percentage of patients with an unplanned 30-day return to theatre after surgery fell from 7.8% in 2027/18 to 6.3% in 2021/22.

In addition to further key messages, this report also contains a number of recommendations for healthcare providers and cancer alliances.

Read the report – Bowel Cancer State of the Nation report

Children and young people cancer taskforce launched

Department of Health and Social Care

The government have announced plans to bring together experts with the common goal of saving lives and reducing the long-term impact of cancer in children and young people. The taskforce will consider genomic treatments, new diagnosis tools, research and innovation.

Children and young people cancer taskforce launched

Cancer in the UK Overview 2024.

Cancer Research UK (CRUK); 2024.

This annual report summarises key metrics and data across the cancer pathway, including prevention, earlier diagnosis and treatment. It looks at where progress is being made and what challenges remain in the UK.

Cancer in the UK Overview 2024.

Cancer risk factors and access to cancer prevention services for people experiencing homelessness

The Lancet – Feb 2024

Cancer is one of the most pressing global health issues, and populations with complex needs, such as people experiencing homelessness, have higher cancer incidence and mortality rates compared with the housed population. We mapped the evidence on cancer risk factors as well as barriers and facilitators to cancer prevention services among people experiencing homelessness, which is key to localising research gaps and identifying strategies for tailored interventions adapted to people experiencing homelessness. The results of 40 studies contribute to an understanding of the dynamic, interactive factors at different levels that determine access to cancer prevention services: socioeconomic, psychological, and physical factors (individual level); practical support and relational loops between health-care providers and people experiencing homelessness (interpersonal level); housing and regular medical care (system level); and interventions to facilitate access to cancer prevention (policy level). Furthermore, studies reported higher prevalence of various cancer-associated risk factors among people experiencing homelessness with the most common being tobacco use, ranging from 26% to 73%. The results show the importance of interventions to facilitate cancer prevention services through social support and low-threshold interventions (eg, navigation programmes), and training health-care staff in creating supportive and trusting environments that increase the likelihood of the continuity of care among people experiencing homelessness.

Read the article – Cancer risk factors and access to cancer prevention services for people experiencing homelessness