cancer referral guidelines

Cancer referral guidelines that help GPs decide who needs to see a specialist, and how quickly

If you have symptoms that could be caused by cancer your GP will send you to see a specialist doctor. The specialist will find out more about your symptoms and arrange some tests to find out what is wrong with you.

The Isle of Man Cancer Strategy Group have produced guidelines to help GPs decide when to send a patient to a specialist. These are based on UK guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).

The guidelines advise GPs which symptoms to look out for. For some symptoms, a specialist should see the patient quickly. This is called an urgent referral.

If your GP sends you to a specialist it doesn’t mean that you definitely have cancer - even if your referral is urgent. It is natural to feel worried, but there may be no need. Remember that the cause of your symptoms may not be cancer, but be another illness.

For more information...

NICE has produced an information booklet for patients, carers and the public about the referral guidelines in the UK. This is available on their website. It contains:

• recommendations on the support and information needs of people being referred, as well as general recommendations on diganosis
• symptoms of each type of cancer, listed together with referral recommendations to help GPs identify patients with suspected cancer
• information to support the referral of children and young people with suspected cancer.

To see a copy of the NICE booklet, click here.