Cancer remains the single biggest killer of people in Scotland – as such; it is a major area of work for us. This year we published work that tackles cancers of the head, neck, oesophagus, and stomach.
“The care I received for my oral cancer was first rate. It was my dentist who first detected a problem and referred me to Glasgow’s Dental Hospital. By the end of the following day I’d received a biopsy, and by the following week I was in the Southern General hospital with a diagnosis of oral cancer. I was operated on within a fortnight. I’m sure that the prompt attention I received has resulted in the fact that I’m now free of cancer.”
Kathleen Devers
Cancer of the head and neck
Head and neck cancer affects around 1,000 people in Scotland every year, often linked to smoking, alcohol and deprivation. Evidence suggests that more young people than ever have cancer of the head and neck, including the mouth, voice box, lips and nose.
Our evidence-based head and neck cancer guidelines emphasises the need for early detection if survival rates are to be improved.
We also provide an evidence note summarising current research into hyperbaric oxygen therapy, a treatment aimed at reducing the side effects of radiation therapy in head and neck cancer patients.
Cancer of the stomach and oesophageal cancer
Stomach and oesophageal cancer is the third most common cause of cancer death in Scotland. Despite some increase in survival rates, only 40 per cent of stomach and oesophageal cancer patients are alive one year after diagnosis.
Our stomach and oesophageal cancer guidelines aim to improve the identification of those patients able to benefit from surgery, so saving lives.
Core Cancer Standards (bowel, breast and cervical screening)
Our draft core cancer standards outline the care that every cancer patient should receive, and provide the foundation for a set of major new standards on specific cancers. They address issues such as referrals and waiting times; assessment, care planning and care delivery; and communication, information sharing and support.
Our national bowel screening programme and draft standards set out the measures NHS boards should have to ensure effective screening of patients.
The Scottish Breast Screening Programme review found that it continues to achieve high clinical standards since our review of 2003.
The Scottish Cervical Screening Programme review highlighted progress made by NHS boards since our 2003
review and identified issues for the programme to develop further.
Access SIGN’s cancer related guidelines