Cancer Team Newsletter – May 2023

Pathfields News

Pathfields Cancer Team Newsletter – May 2023

Hello and welcome to the May edition of the Cancer Care Newsletter from Pathfields Cancer Team. Please spare a few minutes to skim this email, you might find something of interest that could act as a reminder or a change in practice to help identify a Cancer. 

And why not take this opportunity to click the link and spend a minute reminding yourself of the relevant 2ww pathway, especially if it is one we don’t regularly use. 

This Month we are bringing awareness to: 

 Skin Cancer and Bladder Cancer 

Skin Cancer: 

What can I do to prevent skin cancer? 

The best protection is to cover up and be safe in the sun. Wear a hat and long sleeves. It’s important to check your skin regularly for any changes.

How can I be safe in the sun?

  • Always use 5* UVA rated sun protection 🌞 Macmillan recommend 5* UVA with at least an SPF 30.
  • Drink plenty of water 🥛💦 Cover up with a hat and long sleeves.
  • Wear a wide-brimmed hat👒to protect your face and neck.
  • Wear UV blocking sunglasses😎 to protect your eyes.
  • Don’t forget to apply sun cream to those easy to miss places – lips 👄, tops of ears 👂, back of neck, feet 👣 and scalp.
  • Limit your time in the sun and stay in the shade ⛱ between 11am and 3pm.
  • Do not let your skin go red or burn. 😡
  • Protection can rub off when it comes into contact with sand, water 🌊 towels or sweat, so you should reapply every two hours. 🕑
  • Do not use a sunbed or sunlamp. If it is important for you to look tanned, use fake tan lotions or sprays. 🌞

Skin- 2ww Referral Criteria 

Reminder:

  • Make use of the Photo-Derm clinic at Crownhill Surgery on Fridays to review a suspicious lesion where you are uncertain if it is cancer
  • If you are highly suspicious a lesion may be cancerous refer immediately via 2ww
  • Melanoma: Refer suspicious pigmented lesions with a score of 3 or more:

Major features (scoring 2 points each):

  • change in size
  • irregular shape
  • irregular colour
Minor features (scoring 1 point each):
  • largest diameter 7 mm or more
  • inflammation
  • oozing
  • change in sensation

Bladder Cancer Awareness 

Around 10,300 people are diagnosed with bladder cancer in the UK every year.
It’s the 11th most common cancer in the UK, and the 8th most common cancer in men.

Urology: 2ww Referral Criteria 

 Reminder:  

  • Refer all patients 45 and over with frank haematuria without evidence of UTI or urinary tract stone or anyone with visible haematuria that recurs after treatment of a UTI
  • Make sure you follow-up MSU’s in these patients yourself, and where negative refer.
  • Refer anyone aged over 60 with non-visible haematuria and: a) Raised white cell count or b) Dysuria not explained by UTI/stone

Thank you as always for taking the time to connect with our newsletter. If you have any questions or feedback, please do get in contact! 

Karen – Cancer Support Worker
Dr Korn – Clinical Lead in Cancer Care

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