BMJ  2007;335:267-268 (11 August), doi:10.1136/bmj.39293.453090.AD

Editorials

Fast track referral for cancer

Has not improved patient outcomes in the UK

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Most patients with cancer who are not diagnosed by screening will be diagnosed after symptoms develop, so timely referral of patients to specialists is essential. In this week's BMJ Potter and colleagues assess the long term impact of the "two week wait" rule in the United Kingdom for breast cancer on referral patterns, diagnoses of cancer, and waiting times.¹ Their study found that the diagnosis of cancer in people referred within two weeks significantly decreased in the period 1999-2005 (12.8% v 7.7%, P<0.001) and diagnoses in people referred through the routine route increased (2.5% v 5.3%, P<0.001). The study suggests that the current cancer referral policy in the UK—whereby patients with a given set of symptoms are seen within two weeks—results in more patients who have cancer being seen on routine waiting lists than on the fast track list. This means diagnosis is delayed even further. Why is this so, . . . [Full text of this article]

¹ WA Centre for Cancer and Palliative Care, Health Research Campus, Curtin University of Technology, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia, ² School of Surgery and Pathology, QEII Medical Centre, Perth, WA 6009

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This article has been cited by other articles:

• Crawford, S M. (2007). Breast cancer experience has wider implications. BMJ 335: 361-361 [Full text]  

Rapid Responses:

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For Fools Rush In Where Angels Fear To Tread

Dr. Herbert H. Nehrlich
bmj.com, 14 Aug 2007 [Full text]

Breast cancer experience and wider implications for referrals policies

S. Michael Crawford
bmj.com, 13 Aug 2007 [Full text]

Two week rule too weak

David A Gorard
bmj.com, 14 Aug 2007 [Full text]

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benjamin dean
bmj.com, 16 Aug 2007 [Full text]

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Wilfrid Treasure
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