Second Primary cancers: a case note review and interview study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Second primary cancers: a case note review and interview study to understand pathways to diagnosis and patient and provider experiences
IRAS ID
216458
Contact name
Christine Campbell
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Edinburgh
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 20 days
Research summary
The number of people surviving cancer is increasing and, in combination with an ageing population, the incidence of second primary cancers (SPCs) will inevitably also increase. Within the wider literature on cancer survivorship there is emerging evidence on the risk of developing an SPC. Much of this literature reports on incidence among cancer survivors of developing an SPC which ranges between 1% and 17% depending on index cancer site. Overall, SPCs are estimated to account for as much as 16-18% of total cancer incidence.
Health services face an increasing burden of cancer diagnoses and there are challenges for primary care in managing cancer follow-up care, including SPCs. Moreover, research shows the complexities of multiple patient factors including psychological features and prior experiences in influencing symptom appraisal and help-seeking behaviours for cancer. However little is known about how people appraise, interpret symptoms and seek help for a second cancer in the context of having lived through the cancer journey.
This study is part of a broader project that aims to understand pathways to diagnosis, patient and provider experiences, and survival outcomes. Examining the pathways to diagnosis of recently diagnosed patients in Scotland with an SPC of one of the four main SPC types (lung, colorectal, female breast, and prostate), and patients’ and providers’ experiences of the diagnostic journey of an SPC are the aims of this study.
We will explore characteristics of the primary care diagnostic intervals by reviewing primary care case notes of patients diagnosed with an SPC of one of the four main SPC types within the last six months.
In order to obtain an understanding patients’ and providers’ experiences of the diagnostic journey of an SPC we will conduct in-depth interviews with patients recently diagnosed with an SPC and with general practitioners caring for patients with an SPC.
REC name
East of Scotland Research Ethics Service REC 2
REC reference
17/ES/0002
Date of REC Opinion
1 Feb 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion