Abstract
The aim of this study was to compare 5-year survival rates in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients who underwent potentially curative surgery before and after the introduction of the 2-week wait (2WW) referral system. Data were collected retrospectively from a prospectively maintained cancer database for CRC patients who underwent surgery in 1999 (pre-2WW group, n = 150) and 2002 (post-2WW group, n = 126). Patients who presented as an emergency, those who died within 30 days of surgery and those who presented with incurable CRC were excluded. We used the Kaplan-Meier method to plot survival curves and the log rank test to compare survival rates between the two groups. The 5-year survival rates in the pre-2WW and post-2WW groups did not differ significantly (71%vs 72%, respectively; P = 0.880). The number of CRC patients who presented via urgent pathways was higher in the post-2WW group than in the pre-2WW group (77%vs 38%, P < 0.001). Further, owing to this change in the referral pattern, the overall delay between referral and treatment was significantly lower in the post-2WW group than in the pre-2WW group (median 76 days vs 115, P = 0.009). The 2WW referral system for patients with symptoms of CRC does not translate into improved survival. However, more patients with symptomatic CRC are being referred via urgent pathways.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
