Non-specific symptoms pathway (2024)

Key learning from wave 2

This material is based on our 5 ACE Projects which became the focus of our Wave 2 activity. Here you can find the key learning and documents to date.

This paper published in the BJC summarises our first results from the MDC projects. Diagnosing cancer in patients with non-specific symptoms with an 8% conversion rate and demonstrating the diagnostic potential of a dedicated referral pathway for non-site specific symptoms.
First results from five multidisciplinary diagnostic centre (MDC) projects

This summary report highlights the key findings from the five MDC projects and draws together the learning gained from their implementation. It also includes an overview of data from the evaluation period.
Key Messages from the evaluation of the MDCs

This material is based on feedback from the projects and covers: timing, essentials to developing MDC plans, working with primary care, key data elements and operational challenges.
ACE Programme early learning leaflet

This document outlines the key findings from the qualitative evaluation carried out by the Policy Research Unit for Cancer Awareness, Screening and Early Diagnosis on behalf of ACE.
Qualitative Evaluation Summary
Full Report

The Multidisciplinary Diagnostic Centre (MDC) concept is similar to arrangements in Denmark where a patient can undergo several diagnostic tests in one location, often on the same day, leading to a faster diagnosis.

An MDC doesn’t have to be a new ‘centre’. Instead, it can be set up within an existing hospital or community setting and would supplement cancer specific diagnostic pathways.

MDCs can potentially be an effective way to support patients with non-specific symptoms who tend to present late, and to support GPs whom are often unsure of the appropriate referral pathway for non-specific symptomatic patients.

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Non-specific symptoms pathway (1)

DownloadMDC infographic

Our animated video looks at the benefits of the MDC pathway from 6 different perspectives. It features the views of ACE team members who are assessing the effectiveness of the MDCs and clinicians who are working on the pathway, supporting patients with non-specific but concerning symptoms

Watchour video -Features of the ACE MDC pathway

Developing knowledge about rapid referral pathways for non-specific symptoms

The documents below have been created to develop knowledge of the MDC model for non-specific symptoms.

The distinguishing features paper provides a descriptive overview of project approaches to the MDC model within the five projects:

Distinguishing features of the MDC model

The design principles document identifies three models, as well as a set of overarching MDC design principles

MDC models and principles

This article addresses the challenges associated with achieving a full and rigorous evaluation of MDC cost effectiveness, before describing some of the practical approaches employed at a project level to understand pathway cost.

Project approaches to understanding pathway cost

The following article may be of interest to local commissioners and policy makers interested in implementing MDC-based pathways in their areas
An approach to building the local case for the MDC

This document lists the data items to be collected as part of the MDC evaluation. A full list is available upon request.

Wave 2 projects

Airedale Wharfedale and Craven
The MDC pathway was designed for patients presenting with non-specific symptoms who need diagnosis and treatment or referral within a few days of presentation but do not necessarily require hospital admission.

Greater Manchester
The two MDC sites trialled a same-day ‘hot-reporting’ diagnostic service model, including provision for individualised health risks assessments, personalised behavioural change interventions, and health promotion services.

Leeds
The project was based on a virtual MDC concept within shared hospital diagnostic resources, with a primary aim to ‘improve patient experience and outcomes by getting the quickest, most accurate diagnosis for people with non-specific, concerning symptoms with GP suspicion of cancer’

London Cancer
The project piloted the MDC concept across five sites, including urban specialist and urban district general settings. The overarching aim of the project was to improve access to diagnostics, patient survival, experience and costs associated with cancer presenting with non-specific but concerning symptoms.

Oxfordshire
The pathway accepted patients aged 40 years and older (a population of approximately 345,000) for whole-body, low dose, contrast enhanced CT and broad panel of laboratory investigations as the first tests for all referrals. The overarching aim of the project was to improve the time to referral for testing and diagnosis for patients with non-organ specific symptoms who do not meet the national 2WW referral criteria.

Vague symptoms projects cluster (wave 1)

These documents summarise our learnings from the ACE Vague Symptoms cluster in Wave 1, a series of projects aimed to explore ways of achieving earlier diagnosis of cancer for patients that are currently not served well by existing referral guidelines, processes and pathways. The pilots took place across August 2014 – March 2018.

Please see the Executive summary and Full Report from this cluster.

Executive summary Full report

A list of other documents available upon request

Non-specific symptoms pathway (2024)

FAQs

Non-specific symptoms pathway? ›

The non-specific symptoms (NSS) pathway provides a route for patients presenting with vague symptoms who may have a serious illness.

What is an NSS pathway? ›

NSS pathways are intended to cover the cohort of patients who do not fit clearly. into a single 'urgent cancer' referral pathway, as defined by NG12, but who are. nonetheless at risk of being diagnosed with cancer. Symptoms considered 'non-

What does it mean if symptoms are non-specific? ›

Non-specific is a widely-used term in radiology, and clinical medicine in general. Non-specific is used for a symptom, sign, test result, radiological finding, etc., that does not point towards a specific diagnosis or etiology.

What does "suspected cancer pathway" mean? ›

The Suspected Cancer Pathway (SCP) is a Welsh Government target for diagnosing cancer and starting treatment more quickly. It also indicates where information and support should be provided across the pathway.

What are specific and non-specific symptoms? ›

Some symptoms are specific, that is, they are associated with a single, specific medical condition. Nonspecific symptoms, sometimes also called equivocal symptoms, are not specific to a particular condition. They include unexplained weight loss, headache, pain, fatigue, loss of appetite, night sweats, and malaise.

What is a non-specific symptom pathway? ›

The non-specific symptoms (NSS) pathway provides a route for patients presenting with vague symptoms who may have a serious illness.

How does the NSS work? ›

The NSS is to be sent from the President to Congress in order to communicate the executive branch's national security vision to the legislative branch. The NSS provides discussion on proposed uses of all facets of U.S. power needed to achieve the nation's security goals.

Why is it important to recognize non-specific symptoms? ›

Why are they important in an emerging disease? Nonspecific findings and symptoms can be caused by a variety of health conditions, so the puzzle of finding their origins can leave people sick but undiagnosed for years or even a lifetime.

What does non-specific mean in pathology? ›

/ˌnɑːn.spəˈsɪf.ɪk/ uk. /ˌnɒn.spəˈsɪf.ɪk/ Add to word list Add to word list. A non-specific disease or condition does not result from any one particular cause: Chest pain is a non-specific symptom that can have cardiac or no cardiac causes.

What is another word for nonspecific symptoms? ›

Synonyms of nonspecific
  • general.
  • overall.
  • broad.
  • vague.
  • comprehensive.
  • all-round.
  • extensive.
  • wide.
Aug 7, 2024

Why am I on the cancer pathway? ›

GP or other healthcare professional refers onto a suspected cancer pathway: In the UK, suspected cancer referrals are treated as high priority. This means when cancer is suspected, then there is a faster route to get further tests and specialist advice.

What are the most common cancer pathways? ›

Environmental toxins and genetic mutations can play a role in the development of tumors. Some of the most important pathways involved in cancer biology are the ErbB family pathway, the p53-mediated apoptosis pathway, and the GSK3 signaling pathway.

How long is the cancer pathway? ›

The 31 day standard states that people with cancer should begin their treatment within 31 days of a decision to treat their cancer. The 62 day standard states that people with cancer should begin treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral.

What stage has non specific signs and symptoms appearing? ›

The prodromal stage refers to the period after incubation and before the characteristic symptoms of infection occur. People can also transmit infections during the prodromal stage. During this stage, the infectious agent continues replicating, which triggers the body's immune response and mild, nonspecific symptoms.

What are non specific medical symptoms? ›

Common medically unexplained symptoms include:
  • pains in the muscles or joints.
  • back pain.
  • headaches.
  • tiredness.
  • feeling faint.
  • chest pain.
  • heart palpitations.
  • stomach problems.

What do non-specific findings mean on a CT scan? ›

These findings are not specific. Often, they do not mean there is cancer. For example, a CT scan of a lung finds a tiny, benign (not cancer) nodule in about 2 out of every 3 people. It's often from scars from a past infection. We usually monitor these tiny or nonspecific lesions at follow-up exams.

What does the NSS stand for? ›

The National Service Scheme (NSS) is an Indian government sector public service program conducted by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of the Government of India. Popularly known as NSS, the scheme was launched in Mahatma Gandhi's centenary year in 1969.

What is the NSS used for? ›

The National Student Survey (NSS) is an independent survey that gathers final year undergraduate students' opinions on the quality of their course.

What is an NSS system? ›

Any information system (including any telecommunications system) used or operated by an agency or by a contractor of an agency, or other organization on behalf of an agency (i) the function, operation, or use of which involves intelligence activities; involves cryptologic activities related to national security; ...

What does NSS stand for in the military? ›

National Security Strategy

The NSS describes the worldwide interests and objectives of the US; the national means necessary to deter aggression and the adequacy of the national resources to pursue national interests. Historically, the NSS does not address specific ways to achieve the stated objectives.

References

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