The rarer cancer foundation has contacted rare cancer groups to ask for patient input for their survey- see below. I think it is worthwhile and will be participating in the survey.
best wishes, Sandy
PATHWAYS TO DIAGNOSIS
Online survey: improving diagnosis of rare or less common cancers
We are supporting an initiative by the Rarer Cancers Foundation to support the NHS in ensuring that people with rarer and less common cancers are diagnosed at the earliest possible stage, so maximising their treatment options and survival chances. To do this, more information is needed to be learnt about the experiences of cancer patients around the time of their diagnosis.
The RCF have been commissioned by the Department of Health to undertake a study looking at how people were diagnosed with cancer, including what symptoms they experienced, how long symptoms persisted before they saw a doctor, how the doctor responded to these symptoms and how rapidly the cancer was diagnosed.
Your feedback is vital and we would therefore be grateful if you could complete the on line survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/R3ZJRYR .
Your responses are really important to ensure as broad a picture as possible is analysed. However the survey is only able to use information from:
- Those patients diagnosed with a rare or less common cancer (by rarer cancers it means any cancer other than breast, lung, colorectal and prostate);
- Those patients who attended a GP practice in England only at any time between 7th November 2003 and 6th November 2009 inclusive;
Please do take the time to complete the survey so we can all help to make a real difference to the outcomes for those diagnosed with cancer. The responses are needed by the 1st October 2010.
