New service improves diagnoses waits for cancer patients
March is prostate cancer awareness month and a service for patients with urological cancers - including prostate cancer, kidney cancer, bladder cancer and testicular cancer - is speeding up diagnoses, already helping 2,300 people in the last six months.
The Rapid Diagnostic Centre (RDC) for urology has been reducing waiting times for patients across Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, meaning they can find out more quickly about whether they have cancer.
Emma Chappell, Lead Nurse for Urology Services, said: “By getting patients tested and diagnosed faster, we’re reducing waiting times and ensuring that more people receive timely care, which is a vital part of improving cancer outcomes and survival.”
The service is led by Emily Dalton, Lead Urology Rapid Diagnostic Centre Nurse, who explained how the RDC is a quicker and more efficient way of managing referrals from GPs.
She said: “If someone has been referred to us with suspected prostate cancer, we arrange for them to have an MRI scan at their local hospital. Once that’s done, we review the results and if that shows up a concern, we call them about coming in for a biopsy. This is all done without needing to see a consultant and completed within just three to five days.”
Spotting the signs and symptoms of urological cancers quickly is really important, you can find out more what to look out for here. Always contact your GP if you are concerned about changes in your health.