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SM Crawford speculates that the reason of below average survival in
cancer can be associated with more advanced stage at presentation. And
marks general practitioners as the cause of delay.
We general practitioners have been accused of requesting too many tests,
too many Chest xrays, and too many unnecessary USS, and too many endoscopies and too many unnecessary referrals to secondary care
(including lower GI and breast).
His speculation does not offer any data or evidence comparing cancer
presentation stage in other countries compared with cancer presentation
stage in the UK.
If S M Crawford is right I could speculate about the reason for late
presentation: is it the endurance and sacrifice of the average UK
citizen?, or the lack of self care of the average UK citizen?. And I'm
offering the same data as SM Crawford: none.
If primary care is the cause, I doubt that Public Health or secondary care
has the necessary resources to attend every patient that presents with a
cough, every patient that presents with occasional abdominal pain or
bloatness, every patient with dysphonia...
This is serious and throwing fireballs to other
professionals is not the solution. Or I misunderstood S M Crawford.
It is clear that there is a difference and data are collected in different
forms in different countries.
Recently a United Nations scientist has been found not telling the
truth. Should we suspect that the same is happening in the health
organizations of different countries where health is a political issue?
Are GPs guilty of "below European average" cancer survival?
SM Crawford speculates that the reason of below average survival in
cancer can be associated with more advanced stage at presentation. And
marks general practitioners as the cause of delay.
We general practitioners have been accused of requesting too many tests,
too many Chest xrays, and too many unnecessary USS, and too many endoscopies and too many unnecessary referrals to secondary care
(including lower GI and breast).
His speculation does not offer any data or evidence comparing cancer
presentation stage in other countries compared with cancer presentation
stage in the UK.
If S M Crawford is right I could speculate about the reason for late
presentation: is it the endurance and sacrifice of the average UK
citizen?, or the lack of self care of the average UK citizen?. And I'm
offering the same data as SM Crawford: none.
If primary care is the cause, I doubt that Public Health or secondary care
has the necessary resources to attend every patient that presents with a
cough, every patient that presents with occasional abdominal pain or
bloatness, every patient with dysphonia...
This is serious and throwing fireballs to other
professionals is not the solution. Or I misunderstood S M Crawford.
It is clear that there is a difference and data are collected in different
forms in different countries.
Recently a United Nations scientist has been found not telling the
truth. Should we suspect that the same is happening in the health
organizations of different countries where health is a political issue?
Nothing personal. Just a thought.
Competing interests: No competing interests