Hosted by the Somerset, Wiltshire, Avon & Gloucestershire (SWAG) Cancer Alliance and Leukaemia Care, open to all Pharmacy Professionals and team members across Primary Care (Community Pharmacy, General Practice and PCN roles)

Registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_SRKkb-poQT-JjfB9O1mXYg

Earlier and faster diagnosis of cancers is a high national and regional priority. Community pharmacy and primary care health professionals play a crucial role in diagnosing blood cancer early.

Blood cancers have a higher rate of emergency diagnosis than other cancer types. Emergency presentation rates account for 30% of blood cancers diagnosed, compared to 22% across all cancers. The highest emergency presentation rates for any cancer type occur in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), at 65% of patients. Early diagnosis has a significant impact on both survival rates and patient experience.

We know that patient presentation delays and the nature of acute conditions contributes to emergency diagnosis rates. But, the fact that you may see cases of blood cancers infrequently, adds challenges, especially as the symptoms are notoriously vague and non-specific.

This webinar aims to raise the index of suspicion for community pharmacy and primary care workers and give specific tips on early warning signs to aid early detection. As well as discussing, signs and symptoms and significance of early diagnosis, outcomes and routes to diagnosis, this webinar will explore practical approaches and potential triggers for referral.

• When should I suspect leukaemia?
• What are the signs and symptoms?
• What are the early warning signs?
• What difference does early diagnosis make to outcomes?
• How do I escalate?
• How do we overcome challenges to refer?

The webinar will end with a session covering potential drug interactions of chronic leukaemia treatments with medications issued in primary care.

Speakers: 

• Dr Helen Winter, Consultant Medical Oncologist, Clinical Director for SWAG Cancer Alliance
• Charlotte Martin Leukaemia Care Advocacy Manager
• Dr Priyanka Mehta, Consultant Haematologist, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Trust
• Ade Williams, Superintendent Pharmacist, Non-Exec Director Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, Lead for Oncology and Community Pharmacy - Primary Care Pharmacy Association
• Dr Amelia Randle, GP, Out of Hospitals Clinical Lead for SWAG Cancer Alliance, Urgent Care Clinical Advisor NHSESW
• Andrea Preston, Macmillan Divisional Lead Pharmacist- Haematology

Programme

• 19.00 – 19.10 Event Chair, Dr Helen Winter – Introductions to topic and housekeeping Charlotte
• 19.10 – 19.20 Charlotte Martin – ‘Spot Leukaemia’ signs and symptoms, early diagnosis, patient case experiences – emergency presentation data
• 19.20 – 19.35 Dr Priyanka Mehta – Significance of early diagnosis and outcomes in leukaemia, different ways leukaemia patients may present – difference between acute and chronic conditions, basic epidemiology, case studies. Top tips key features – potential triggers (explained from perspective of what the GP would need to act on) -
• 19.35 – 19.50 Ade Williams – Early diagnosis, recognition, raising the bar of suspicion, referral mechanisms, practical approaches
• 19.50 – 20.05 Early diagnosis panel Q&A session
• 20.05 – 20.15 Andrea Preston – Potential drug interactions of chronic leukaemia treatments with medications issued in primary care
• 20.15 – 20.25 Drug interactions panel Q&A discussion
• 20.25 – 20.30 Dr Helen Winter - Summing up and close