Primary screening for human papillomavirus compared with cytology screening for cervical cancer in European settings: cost effectiveness analysis based on a Dutch microsimulation model

Source: BMJ: British Medical Journal

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Date of publication: March 2012

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: A cost effectiveness analysis was carried out to establish whether European countries should screen for human papillomavirus (HPV) over cytology screening for detecting cervical cancer. The study revealed that HPV screening should be considered over primary cytology by most European countries.

Length of publication: 14 pages

Some important notes: This article is available in full text to all NHS Staff using Athens. For more information about accessing full text, follow this link to find your local NHS Library.

NHS ‘failing to inform’ women of breast cancer screening risks

Source: Nursing Times

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Date of publication: September 2011

Publication type: News item

In a nutshell: Research suggests that women undergoing NHS breast cancer screening are being “misinformed” and are not told about the harms of over-diagnosis. Those running the NHS breast cancer screening programme have “stuck to” beliefs from 25 years ago about the benefit of mammograms and supply women with “astonishingly misleading” statistics on death rates, they added. They called for more honesty from the NHS programme.

Length of publication: Webpage

Screening of no use?

Source: Nature Reviews Cancer

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Date of publication: September 2011

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: Early detection is thought to be our best tactic for tackling cancer, but a recent retrospective trend analysis published in the British Medical Journal indicates that mammography has not significantly contributed to reduced death rates from breast cancer.

Length of publication: [Journal article]

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS Library for the full text of the article. Follow this link to find your local NHS Library.

New European guidelines on bowel cancer screening and diagnosis

Source: Cancer Research UK

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Date of publication: February 2011

Publication type: News item

In a nutshell: The first-ever set of EU guidelines for bowel cancer screening and diagnosis has been published. Coordinated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) – the World Health Organisation’s cancer research agency – the guidelines were drawn up by more than 90 experts from 32 countries. The new guidelines aim to improve the quality of screening across EU member states by providing benchmarks for all stages of the screening process.

Length of publication: Webpage

Male attitudes to screening ‘must be addressed’

Source: Nursing Times

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Date of publication: October, 2010

Publication type: News Item

In a nutshell: A study of over 300 adults has found that men are less likely than women to be screened for bowel cancer due to lack confidence in their own ability to use the faecal occult blood test.

Length of publication: 1 webpage

Some important notes: The reference for the study this item discusses is as follows:

Vart, G F (2010) How men differ from women in their attitudes towards bowel cancer screening and intention to be screened. Journal of Men’s Health; 7(3), 241-248

Please contact your local NHS Library for the full text of the above  article. Follow this link to find your local NHS Library.

‘Sponge checks’ for oesophageal cancer risk

Source: BBC News Health

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Date of publication: September, 2010

Publication type: News Item

In a nutshell: Medical Research Council scientists have created the ‘cytospong’ (a sponge on a piece of string) which collects cells from the stomach and can be used to check for a pre-cancerous condition called Barrett’s oesophagus.   This can lead to the development of oesophageal or food pipe cancer.  The MRC’s study is published in the British Medical Journal.  In the past, surgical treatments for Barrett’s oesophagus have been invasive and relatively risky, but the team of scientists believes that the ‘cytosponge’ could be used in primary care as an inexpensive and easily-administered test.

Length of publication: 1 webpage

Some important notes: The original article was can be accessed by clicking here.  This article is available in full text to all NHS Staff using Athens, for more information about accessing full text follow this link to find your local NHS Library.

‘One-off’ prostate cancer tests backed for 60-year-olds

Source: BBC News Health

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Date of publication: September, 2010

Publication type: News Item

In a nutshell: A study published in the British Medical Journal claims that a single blood test for all 60-year-old men could pick out the vast majority of those likely to die from prostate cancer. The blood test could reveal men who need no further checks and prevent many men from having unnecessary treatment following regular screening.

Length of publication: 1 webpage

Some important notes: The original articles was published in the BMJ.  This article is available in full text to all NHS Staff using Athens, for more information about accessing full text follow this link to find your local NHS Library.

Government announces new ‘Flexi-scope’ bowel screening test

Source: Cancer Research UK

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Date of publication: October, 2010

Publication type: News item

In a nutshell: A 16-year clinical trial, co-funded by Cancer Research UK and published in the Lancet medical journal, revealed that 10,000 people each year will avoid bowel cancer as a result of including the Flexi-scope test into the national bowel screening programme. 

The government has confirmed that a £60 million investment will enable the test to be rolled out nationwide over the next four years. 

Length of publication: 1 webpage

Some important notes: A summary of the original Lancet article can be found by clicking here. The full text of the original article can be accessed clicking here  (This article is available in full text to all NHS Staff using Athens, for more information about accessing full text follow this link to find your local NHS Library)

New state of the art breast screening service for Oldham

Source: NHS Oldham

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Date of publication: August, 2010

Publication type: News Item

In a nutshell: A brand new state of the art breast screening service is now available at the Oldham Integrated Care Centre.

Length of publication: 2 pages

Awareness of ovarian cancer risk factors, beliefs and attitudes towards screening: baseline survey of 21715 women participating in the UK Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening

Source: British Journal of Cancer, 2010, 103, p. 454-461

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Date of publication: August, 2010

Publication type: Journal Article

In a nutshell: Women’s awareness of ovarian cancer (OC) risks, their attitudes towards and beliefs about screening, together with misunderstandings or gaps in knowledge, may influence screening uptake.

Length of publication: 7 pages

Some important notes: If item is a journal article in this section include “Please contact your local NHS Library for the full text of the article. Follow this link to find your local NHS Library. http://www.hlisd.org/

UK breast cancer death rates ‘falling faster than elsewhere in Europe’

Source: Cancer Research UK

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Date of publication: August, 2010

Publication type: News Item

In a nutshell: Breast cancer death rates have fallen steeply in the UK in the last 20 years – and at a faster rate than in any other European country except for Iceland, a new study in the British Medical Journal has found.

Length of publication: 1 page

Some important notes: If item is a journal article in this section include “Please contact your local NHS Library for the full text of the article. Follow this link to find your local NHS Library. http://www.hlisd.org/

Quality indicators in breast cancer care

Source: European Journal of Cancer, 2010, 46 (13) p. 2344-2356

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Date of publication: September, 2010

Publication type: Journal Article

In a nutshell: Eusoma has organised a workshop during which twenty four experts have reviewed the international literature and selected the main process and outcome indicators available for quality assurance of breast cancer care.

Length of publication: 12 pages

Some important notes: If item is a journal article in this section include “Please contact your local NHS Library for the full text of the article. Follow this link to find your local NHS Library. http://www.hlisd.org/