We’re thrilled that our PELICAN project is one of the 11 research projects awarded as part of Cancer Council Victoria prestigious Grants-In Aid program, commencing 2024. Read more: buff.ly/49XRhG9

👏 Dr Meena Rafiq from University of Melbourne Cancer in Primary Care has been awarded a $360k Cancer Council Victoria #GrantInAid to lead an Australian-first project linking patient electronic GP records with their genetic information and cancer registry data to improve early cancer diagnosis. See: mdhs.unimelb.edu.au/centre-for-can…

Very excited we’ve been awarded Cancer Council Victoria #grantinaid funding for our PELICAN project looking at how patient genetics 🧬 can improve early cancer diagnosis 🦠 in patients with signs/symptoms of possible cancer in primary care 👩🏻‍⚕️ University of Melbourne Cancer in Primary Care VCCC Alliance

GP blood tests are often abnormal many months before a patient’s eventual cancer diagnosis. Fascinating findings by Dr Meena Rafiq under the guidance of Prof Jon Emery in a collaboration with VCCC Alliance Lung and GI tumour leads and Peter Mac Cancer Centre Ben Solomon Marliese Alexander

Thank you to Dr Mandy Nicholson and the Djirri Djirri Cultural Services for welcoming us to country and opening the #CAPRI2024 conference PC4

It’s a privilege to have Mary-Anne Thomas MP at the #CAPRI2024 conference discussing the work of Claire and others in improving cervical cancer screening in Australia and the revolutionary role of self collection kits PC4

Dorothy Keefe discussed the importance of genetics 🧬 across the cancer care continuum which aligns with our University of Melbourne Cancer in Primary Care CASSOWARY and MAGPIE trials and PELICAN study involving Sibel Saya Dr Meena Rafiq Jon Emery #CAPRI2024 Ca-PRI PC4

Proud to co-present with OxPrimaryCareSci’s Kiana Collins and University of Melbourne’s Dr Meena Rafiq a workshop gathering perceptions of acceptability, equity, and implementation considerations towards blood test trends for improving early detection of cancer. #CAPRI2024

UK GP referrals for cancer are increasing month on month. More investment is needed to support this and improve early cancer diagnosis. Prof Tom Crosby OBE presents Cancer Research UK Health Professionals #CRUKEDConference24

161 million GP appointments in the UK each year and each GP will diagnose 10 cancers a year. Innovations are needed to support GPs in picking up patients with underlying cancer. Brian D Nicholson Cancer Research UK Health Professionals #CRUKEDConference24

Primary care tests for cancer still miss many cancers. More diagnostic advances in General Practice are needed in addition to these tests to improve early cancer diagnosis. Brian D Nicholson Cancer Research UK Health Professionals #CRUKEDConference24

Should we revisit the 3% referral threshold used by NICE to recommend urgent cancer referrals? Matthew Barclay present age-sex-smoking risks for cancer following different symptoms Cancer Research UK Health Professionals #CRUKEDConference24

Blood test trends can be detected several years before cancer diagnosis. Pradeep Virdee presents Cancer Research UK Health Professionals #CRUKEDConference24

High platelets are associated with marker of underlying cancer and lower thresholds should be used in older age groups. Sarah Bailey presents findings from University of Exeter Faculty of Health & Life Sci and VCCC Alliance at Cancer Research UK Health Professionals #CRUKEDconference24

What PSA level warrants an urgent cancer referral? Garth Funston presents work on the PPVs of PSA for detecting cancer at different age specific levels Cancer Research UK Health Professionals #CRUKEDconference24 Wolfson Institute of Population Health

Dr Meena Rafiq on the potential for timelier diagnosis by utilising important patient data, including symptoms, blood tests, and more! #CRUKEDConference24

Patients with as-yet-undetected cancer start using GP healthcare more several months before cancer diagnosis and blood tests may help to diagnose them earlier. Dr Meena Rafiq presents work from UK and Australia Cancer Research UK Health Professionals #CRUKEDConference24 Behavioural Science & Health UCL VCCC Alliance

That’s a wrap! Thanks to the team Science and Innovation at Cancer Research UK Cancer Research UK Health Professionals for organising a wonderful conference! See you next year 📆 #CRUKEDConference24

40% of #sarcoma patients don’t survive five years after diagnosis, but Dr Meena Rafiq hopes her research can change that by opening a new window for earlier diagnosis. Read about her journey & hopes for the future: vcccalliance.org.au/news-and-event… #sarcomaawarenessmonth Australia and New Zealand Sarcoma Association

It’s sarcoma awareness month! This months The British Journal of General Practice podcast features me talking about work done with University of Melbourne Cancer in Primary Care and VCCC Alliance to improve sarcoma diagnosis in primary care. Have a listen 👂