Applying information technology in cancer diagnosis

Researchers working at the University of Nottingham, UK and clinical software company ClinRisk have developed a new software (with specific algorithms) on computers, which helps doctors quickly predict quickly and accurately diseases: esophageal cancer, stomach cancer, and early lung cancer (stage of illness or new disease) by giving unsettling warnings (if any) ), based on a general analysis of symptoms and risk factors.

The results of this study were published in the "The British Journal of General Practice" magazine .

Survey results show that: 10% of patients predicted to be at risk (most) will suffer from one of the common cancers, which will develop in the next two years.

"Early identification of symptoms and speeding up the diagnosis can help save more than 5000 people every year without the need for any new advances in medicine," the researchers said.

"Early diagnosis of cancer is a real challenge and we hope that the results of this study will help doctors identify (soonest) latent cancers (much faster than with current cancer screening methods) " , according to Professor Julia Hippisley-Cox, who leads the research team.

New software (with specific algorithms), designed based on the web platform, has been installed on two simple computers and used by doctors. However, a simpler version of this software is also available on the internet to raise public awareness and to remind patients (who have symptoms and high risk factors, seek advice from their doctors).

Lung cancer is a common cancer worldwide but has one of the lowest survival rates, because two-thirds of patients are diagnosed too late to be successfully treated, partly due to the fact The point is that symptoms only occur at metastatic stage, or without symptoms (until they happen to go to the doctor and discover lung cancer).

Although "smoking" is a leading risk factor, other factors include: environment, family history (age, social interaction .), diet and other factors. Chronic respiratory disease also plays an important role.

People with lung cancer often have the following symptoms: Persistent cough, hemoptysis, rapid fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, loss of appetite, weight loss and anemia.

Currently, doctors only focus on one of these symptoms without considering other risk factors, which results in about 80% of cases of lung cancer currently present. Now has not been detected early (missed the opportunity to be treated).

Symptoms of stomach cancer, esophageal cancer include: vomiting blood, difficulty swallowing, loss of appetite, weight loss or abdominal pain. Currently, doctors only focus on one of the above symptoms in diagnosis but ignore the risk factors, which means that up to 40% of cases of stomach cancer - esophagus was not detected early. Other side factors (including heavy tobacco addiction) also help alert doctors about the risk of stomach cancer - esophagus of patients.

"Early diagnosis greatly affects the effectiveness of treatment, reduces mortality in patients with the above common cancers (stomach cancer; esophageal cancer and lung cancer). " Dr. Clare Gerada said.

"Simply running this new software (with specific algorithms) on computers during conferences, will help doctors make predictions about the development of one of the cancers. (if any) usually for patients, two years earlier than current cancer screening methods, which will save thousands of lives every year, "added Dr. Clare Gerada.