World Cancer Day – Tailored Talks supporting lung cancer diagnosis
Today on #WorldCancerDay, we’re reminded of the immense challenges faced by those affected by cancer.
Lung cancer is one of Scotland’s most common cancers and a leading cause of cancer related deaths. Before the coronavirus pandemic, it was estimated that the 5 year survival rate had gone up by 17%, however the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation today estimates that only 13% of people in the UK diagnosed with lung cancer will live for five years or more. A significant factor being late diagnosis.
We are proud to be working in partnership with the South East Innovation Hub to support patients with suspected lung cancer at the diagnostic stage. Utilising Tailored Talks as a tool to improve communication sharing for patients preparing for a CT-guided biopsy procedure.
Tailored Talks is being used to improve patients' knowledge of the procedure so that they have a clear understanding about what will happen on the day. Patients are also provided with clinically approved medical information which they can dip in and out of and share and discuss with family members, loved ones or carers. The aim is that Tailored Talks will enable patients to have discussions about whether they think the procedure is something they wish to undergo, which in turn should reduce the number of patients who decide to decline from the procedure last minute.
Improving the number of patients who undergo this diagnostic procedure should enable lung cancer to be diagnosed at an earlier stage, improving patient outcomes and reducing NHS costs.
We will report back this summer with our pilot results, but in the meantime it’s great to be working in such an important area of research!
#CancerCare #DigitalHealth #PersonalisedMedicine #PatientEmpowerment #TailoredTalks #HealthcareInnovation