Loyalty card data may help identify symptoms of ovarian cancer sooner.imperial news

A study led by Imperial College London suggests that loyalty card data on over-the-counter drug purchases may help detect ovarian cancer early.

A study of about 300 women found that women who were subsequently diagnosed with ovarian cancer were more likely to purchase pain and indigestion medications than women who did not have ovarian cancer. It turned out to be expensive. This purchase change could be seen eight months before her diagnosis.

The first cancer study of its kind, published in JMIR Public Health and Surveillanceinvestigated whether there was an association between a diagnosis of ovarian cancer and a history of purchasing over-the-counter pain and indigestion medications, including pain relievers and digestive aids such as antacids.

“The cancer symptoms we’re looking for are very common, but for some women they may be the first signs of something more serious. Dr. James Flanagan Principal Investigator, Cancer Loyalty Card Study (CLOCS)

Symptoms of ovarian cancer may not be obvious in the early stages of the disease. So instead of visiting a GP, some people buy medicine from their local pharmacy to ease their symptoms because they don’t consider their condition serious. These early symptoms include loss of appetite, stomach pain, and bloating. As a result, the diagnosis of ovarian cancer is often delayed when the cancer has already spread and the chances of survival are greatly reduced.

Ovarian cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the UK, with approximately 7,400 cases diagnosed each year and more than 4,000 deaths each year. One in her five women with ovarian cancer is diagnosed in her A&E, and is often too ill by the time she is diagnosed to receive treatment for her disease.

The results of this study may help identify people who may have ovarian cancer early. This is one of the most effective ways to improve survival. 93% of people diagnosed with ovarian cancer live more than 5 years when diagnosed at the earliest stage (Stage 1) compared to only 13 years when diagnosed at the last stage (Stage 4) % am.

Dr. James Flanaganthe lead author of the study, Imperial’s Surgery/Oncology“The cancer symptoms we’re looking for are very common, but for some women they may be the first signs of something more serious.

“Using shopping data, our study found that women with ovarian cancer were significantly more likely to purchase medications for pain and indigestion up to 8 months prior to diagnosis compared with women without ovarian cancer. We found an increase, suggesting that women may be treating their symptoms at home long before they realize their symptoms are alarming enough to go to a GP. suggests.

“We know that early diagnosis of ovarian cancer is the key to increasing the chances of survival, so we hope that this study will lead to early detection of ovarian cancer symptoms and improved treatment options for patients. hoping.”

This study – by researchers at Imperial College London, UCL and the University of Birminghamfunded by cancer research uk – Contains loyalty card data from two UK-based high street retailers with 273 women. Of these participants, 153 were women diagnosed with ovarian cancer and 120 were women without. Researchers looked at the woman’s six years of her purchase history.

Participants were also asked to complete a brief questionnaire on ovarian cancer risk factors. It also noted the symptoms experienced (if any) and the number of visits to her GP during the year leading up to cancer referral or case diagnosis.

On average, participants with ovarian cancer began to recognize symptoms about four and a half months before diagnosis. Among those who visited a GP to check for symptoms, the first visit occurred on average about 3.5 months before diagnosis.

Women over the age of 18 were allowed to participate in the study if they consented to the researcher’s use of their loyalty card data and agreed to complete a brief questionnaire.

The researchers said further studies were needed to confirm their findings and hoped that a larger study of patients diagnosed at various stages would support and strengthen these findings. I hope

“It’s incredible to think that this groundbreaking research using the loyalty cards most of us carry around in our wallets can help women with ovarian cancer.” Dr. David Crosby Head of Prevention and Early Detection Research, Cancer Research UK

It is also hoped that this research will lead to the future development of warning systems to get people to seek medical attention sooner than otherwise for symptoms of cancer and other illnesses.

The research team, which is funded by Cancer Research UK, is investigating whether purchasing an over-the-counter product can be used in a similar fashion for other cancers such as stomach, liver and bladder cancer. , continuing this research. Generally, there are non-specific symptoms.

Dr David Crosby, Head of Prevention and Early Detection Research at Cancer Research UK, said: Please provide information and use it for early detection of cancer.

“It’s incredible to think that this groundbreaking research using the loyalty cards most of us carry around in our wallets can help women with ovarian cancer.

“Although more studies with more patients are needed, this study shows great potential for new ways to detect cancer early and save lives.”

Fiona Murphy, a representative of ovarian cancer patients who helped develop this study, said: If this had been related to ovarian cancer, I would have had a quicker diagnosis, far fewer surgeries, and better fertility options.

“I was wrongly diagnosed for nearly two years, so I wanted to help develop this research. If there is a way to get an early diagnosis, I’d like to help people in the same position I was in.”

Fiona was diagnosed with mucinous ovarian cancer in 2008 after nearly two years of symptoms. She was not one of the 273 participants whose loyalty card data was used in the study. bottom.

‘Association with over-the-counter drug purchases
and Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis in Cancer Loyalty Card Studies
(CLOCS): Observational Case-Control StudyBy James M. Flanagan et al. is published in JMIR Public Health and Surveillance.

Main image credit: Shutterstock.