The NHS is introducing a groundbreaking pilot program aimed at catching pancreatic cancer early by offering urgent tests to patients presenting with two specific symptoms. Pancreatic cancer is one of the UK’s most deadly cancers, often diagnosed too late for effective treatment.
Hundreds of GP practices across England are now reviewing patient records to identify individuals most at risk. Those over 60 who show early warning signs — such as recent diabetes diagnosis combined with unexplained weight loss — will be invited for urgent blood tests and CT scans to detect the disease at an earlier, more treatable stage.
Pancreatic cancer currently ranks as the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths in the UK, with a grim five-year survival rate of just seven percent. Professor Peter Johnson, NHS national clinical director for cancer, emphasized the urgency: “Patients often don’t recognize symptoms until the cancer has advanced, which is why innovative detection methods are so crucial.”
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The initiative, which began rolling out in over 300 GP practices and will expand further this autumn, offers hope for earlier intervention. Alfie Bailey-Bearfield from Pancreatic Cancer UK highlighted the importance of the program: “Early diagnosis is key to improving survival. This pilot helps GPs proactively identify high-risk individuals, especially those over 60 with new-onset diabetes who have lost weight unintentionally.”
Though many referred for CT scans during the pilot may not have cancer, for those who do, early detection could be lifesaving. With approximately 10,500 new cases annually in the UK and rapid disease progression—more than half of patients die within three months of diagnosis—the new program represents a vital step forward in cancer care.