Second primary cancers: retrospective survival study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Second primary cancers: a mixed-methods study to understand pathways to diagnosis, patient and provider experiences, and survival outcomes
IRAS ID
202169
Contact name
Christine Campbell
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Edinburgh
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Individuals who have survived a first primary cancer are at an increased risk of developing a second primary cancer (SPC). The risk of developing a SPC varies according to the first primary cancer type, treatment given, and other factors including genetic and lifestyle. It has been suggested that SPCs account for up to 16% of overall cancer incidence and with a growing, ageing population of adult cancer survivors the number of individuals affected will increase. There is a need to better understand the experience of those who develop an SPC, including the influence, if any, of the prior cancer on pathways to diagnosis,and survival outcomes.
Aims: 1. To explore the influence of a previous experience of cancer on the diagnostic pathway of an SPC including the contribution to symptom appraisal and help-seeking, from both the patient and provider perspectives. 2. To report survival estimates associated with an SPC compared to first primary cancer diagnosis, including prognostic characteristics.
This is a mixed-methods study but the application relates to only one component - the retrospective cohort study looking at survival using the Scottish Cancer Registry database comparing survival and prognostic characteristics following a SPC to that of a first primary cancer diagnosis.
This study will provide new insights into the challenges associated with timely diagnosis of SPCs that will be used to inform policy and practice to meet the needs of individuals experiencing cancer for a second time.REC name
London - Surrey Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/0628
Date of REC Opinion
31 Mar 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion