Key Summary
- The programme will help pharmacy professionals recognise situations where they need to talk to the patient about referral for further investigation.
- The programme is being organised as part of Bowel Cancer Awareness Month in April and aims to improve rates of early diagnosis.
- Pharmacy teams are often the first port of call for patients who seek advice about symptoms or buy over-the-counter medicines for constipation, diarrhoea or abdominal pain.
The Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education (CPPE) is offering an online learning module to enable pharmacy professionals identify people who may have symptoms of bowel cancer and provide support.
Open to pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and trainee pharmacists, 'Cancer: Supporting people with early diagnosis' also explores the national cancer screening programmes currently available, and how pharmacy professionals can promote screening uptake.
It will help pharmacy professionals recognise situations, including presentation with red flag symptoms for specific cancers, where you need to talk to the patient about referral for further investigation.
They will also be able to identify people who have additional barriers to accessing the initial investigation of symptoms and tailor support to their individual needs.
After the programme, pharmacy professionals will be able to determine when a person needs to be referred to a local health and care pathway and the process for referral in their practice setting.
They will also be able to clear misconceptions about cancer diagnosis and support people to access national cancer screening programmes.
The programme is being organised as part of Bowel Cancer Awareness Month in April and aims to help pharmacy professionals have opportunities to improve rates of early diagnosis.
Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK and 9 in 10 people diagnosed with the disease are over 60, but rates in younger adults are rising.
One in 10 polyps becomes cancerous – these are the small growths that most bowel cancers develop from. There is 90 percent chance of a cure if polyps are spotted early.
Pharmacy teams are often the first port of call for patients who seek advice about symptoms or buy over-the-counter medicines for constipation, diarrhoea or abdominal pain.
Far too many people suffer in silence, dismissing red flag symptoms as common digestive disorders.
Pharmacy professionals can pick up more information and get a better understanding of the patient's condition, and decide whether to refer the person for further investigation, if necessary.
