Challenges in understanding inequities in help-seeking for possible cancer symptoms.

Tackling inequities in cancer outcomes is a global health priority. One avenue for improving early diagnosis of cancer is to ensure people know when and how to seek help for cancer symptoms and that this knowledge (and behaviour) is equitably distributed across the population. In this perspective piece we highlight the challenges in understanding sociodemographic differences in help-seeking behaviour (for example, how help-seeking is defined / conceptualised and subsequently assessed), as well as challenges with using existing datasets that are now more readily accessible than ever.

Using Data to Improve Healthcare: A Case Study of Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement in Pancreatic Cancer.

Objectives: In the UK, guidelines recommend pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) to all people with unresectable pancreatic cancer. In 2023, we published a national audit of PERT which showed suboptimal prescribing and wide regional variation in England. The aim of this manuscript was to describe how we used the PERT audit to drive improvements in healthcare.

During the COVID-19 pandemic 20 000 prostate cancer diagnoses were missed in England.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on prostate cancer incidence, prevalence, and mortality in England.

Patients And Methods: With the approval of NHS England and using the OpenSAFELY-TPP dataset of 24 million patients, we undertook a cohort study of men diagnosed with prostate cancer. We visualised monthly rates in prostate cancer incidence, prevalence, and mortality per 100 000 adult men from January 2015 to July 2023.

Determining the feasibility of calculating pancreatic cancer risk scores for people with new-onset diabetes in primary care (DEFEND PRIME): study protocol.

Introduction: Worldwide, pancreatic cancer has a poor prognosis. Early diagnosis may improve survival by enabling curative treatment. Statistical and machine learning diagnostic prediction models using risk factors such as patient demographics and blood tests are being developed for clinical use to improve early diagnosis.