The University of Aberdeen is partnering in a new study funded by Cancer Research UK that could help detect cancer earlier by analysing the medications patients are prescribed before they are diagnosed.
Led by Queen’s University Belfast, the research will explore whether patterns in prescription data can act as early warning signs for cancer, enabling earlier diagnosis and improving treatment outcomes.
With around 385,000 across the UK being diagnosed with cancer each year finding new ways to diagnose cancer earlier, is vital.*
Professor Peter Murchie from the University of Aberdeen is part of the expert team, led by Queen’s University Belfast, working on the study which will use extensive anonymised prescription data from the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) Databank at Swansea University+.
The research will examine whether an increase in the strength or frequency of medication for symptoms such as pain, indigestion, or bleeding might reflect underlying conditions - such as ovarian or colorectal cancer - that have not yet been formally diagnosed.
Codes used in the NHS to indicate medication prescriptions are easier to analyse and track than symptoms and can be flagged more easily to medical colleagues than notes on a patient’s record saying a symptom is worsening.
Previous studies have already shown increased use of pain and indigestion medication in women with ovarian cancer up to eight months before diagnosis and increases in haemorrhoid treatments in patients with colorectal cancer up to 15 months before diagnosis.
Professor Chris Cardwell, of Queen’s University Belfast, said: “Our study has the potential to identify previously unrecognised medications which are newly used in the period up to two years before cancer diagnosis.
“These changes in specific medications could act as an alert for doctors to consider earlier cancer investigation or point to unrecognised symptom patterns.
“Diagnosing cancer as early as possible is key to ensuring treatment is as effective as possible and give patients the best chance of recovery.”
The study, which will receive £76,462 from Cancer Research UK, will focus on eight cancers: multiple myeloma, pancreatic, stomach, ovarian, lung, renal, colorectal and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma – selected because these cancers are known to involve more GP consultations prior to diagnosis.
Currently, there are many symptoms and medical conditions known to be associated with cancer, but often symptoms can indicate a variety of conditions, not just cancer, making diagnosis harder.
The research will be the first of its kind to study prescription information comprehensively in the UK. Similar studies have been carried out overseas and smaller studies conducted looking at fewer cancer types in the UK.
Cancer Research UK Director of Research, Dr Catherine Elliott, said: “Innovative approaches to tackling cancer are crucial to improving outcomes for patients. We have already made great strides in turning many types of cancer into a treatable disease if diagnosed at an early stage, and studies like this aim to help doctors identify people at risk of cancer much earlier.
“Earlier diagnosis takes us further along the path towards a world where cancer diagnosis is the start of the road to recovery and a less fearful prospect for patients.”
Professor Peter Murchie of the University of Aberdeen added: “This is an exciting study hoping to find out how our increasingly sophisticated health records can be used for the maximum patient benefit. We know symptoms of cancer can develop slowly, changes in our prescription data could become a very important early warning signal to prompt busy GPs.”
Other members of the research team include Professor Carmel Hughes, Dr Sarah Baxter, Dr David Wright and Dr Blánaid Hicks of Queen’s University Belfast
Nearly one in two people born in the UK will get cancer in their lifetime.**