A study looking at diagnosing bowel cancer earlier in Yorkshire (DETECT-CRC)
Cancer type:
Status:
Phase:
This study is using pharmacists to give out FIT tests to help find bowel cancer early.
It is for people who:
- live in deprived areas of Yorkshire and visit a participating pharmacy
- have possible symptoms of bowel cancer
More about this trial
We know from research that some people get better healthcare than others. This might be because of where they live, how much money they have or their background. In socially economically deprived areas, people often:
- find it harder to see doctors or specialists
- have longer waiting times
- live with more health problems
Researchers are looking at spotting bowel cancer earlier in people who live in these deprived areas. We know that finding bowel cancer early helps treatment to work better. And that this can improve cancer outcomes.
Community pharmacists are the most easily reached healthcare professionals for most people. In this study, pharmacists are giving the FIT test to people who present with possible symptoms of bowel cancer. This is a new service. This involves people getting a simple poo test called a FIT (Faecal Immunochemical Test) kit. The FIT kit is a standard test in the NHS. The test looks for blood in a sample of your poo. It looks for tiny traces of blood that you might not be able to see, and which could be a sign of cancer.
Before they do a larger trial, the team need to run this 
.
The main aims of this study are to find out if it’s possible:
- to use community pharmacists to identify people with symptoms that could be bowel cancer
- for this service to diagnose bowel cancer earlier in poorer areas
Who can enter
The following bullet points are a summary of the entry conditions for this study. Talk to your doctor or the study team if you are unsure about any of these. They will be able to advise you.
Who can take part
You may be able to join this study if you attend a participating pharmacy and one of the following apply. You:
- are at least 18 years old and you have a change in your bowel habits
- are over the age of 40 and you have
unexplained weight loss or tummy pain - are under the age of 50 and you have bleeding from your back passage (rectum), blood in your poo, either tummy pain or unexplained weight loss
- are 50 years or older and you have unexplained bleeding from your back passage, blood in your poo, or tummy pain or weight loss
Who can’t take part
You cannot join this study if any of these apply. You:
- do not wish to get a FIT kit
- have already been sent a FIT kit as part of this study
- can’t give
informed consent for any reason
Trial design
The study team hope that the pharmacists can give out 1,000 FIT tests to people who meet the entry conditions.
Your pharmacist has identified you as someone with symptoms that could possibly be bowel cancer. These symptoms might include tummy pain, a change in bowel habits, blood in your poo, feeling tired or unexplained weight loss.
Your pharmacist will give you a FIT test to take home. They will tell you how to use it and give you a leaflet which explains how to do the test. When you have done the sample, you post it to the hospital using the prepaid envelope provided in the kit. You will be sent a letter with your results within 2 weeks of posting your sample.
Pharmacy staff will use your details to link the poo test with your medical record. This is to inform your GP that you have received it. This will allow your results to be shared with you and your GP.
All your information will be safe, secure and confidential.
We have information about getting your results, what the results mean and the next steps.
Hospital visits
You won’t have any hospital visits as a result of taking part in this study.
Side effects
You might find talking about your health upsetting. The pharmacist can give you details of where to get support if needed.
There are no side effects from doing the FIT test.
Location
Recruitment start:
Recruitment end:
How to join a clinical trial
Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.
Chief Investigator
Dr Matthew Kurien
Professor Daniel Hind
Supported by
University of Sheffield
Yorkshire Cancer Research
If you have questions about the trial please contact our cancer information nurses
Freephone 0808 800 4040
