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" GPs will attempt to reduce cancer deaths by consulting new risk-assessment computer software, it has been announced. Currently over 10,000 people die every year from cancer that could have been treated had it been diagnosed earlier. The new software analyses each patient&amp;#039;s cancer risk based on age, weight, blood pressure and family history, as well as specific symptoms such as rectal bleeding or constant fatigue. If a patient is above a certain risk level, they could be referred to hospital for tests within two weeks. Professor Mike Richards, national clinical director for cancer, hopes that every GP in England will be using the software within five years. In an interview with the Guardian, Professor Richards said: &amp;#039;This is helping GPs because none of us can retain this sort of information [about cancer symptoms] and having to retain it for bowel cancer, lung cancer and ovarian cancer, as well as for heart disease, it would take a remarkable human brain to be able to do that, so why not get computers to support it? &amp;#039;The benefit of this will be that GPs will know who should be investigated and who shouldn&amp;#039;t. It will also help patients to know that whether they are being reassured, or referred, or getting a test, that is the right thing to do.&amp;#039; Each year, 293,000 people are diagnosed with cancer and 155,000 people die of the disease. After heart disease and stroke, cancer is the UK&amp;#039;s biggest killer. However, the average GP sees only eight or nine cases of cancer per year. Compared to many European countries, Britain is worse at diagnosing cancer in its earlier, more treatable stages. This is due in part to misdiagnosis on the part of GPs and failure of patients to seek help when symptoms develop. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/healthy-living/news/a19017/computers-to-aid-cancer-diagnosis/>