'One-stop' rare cancer service speeds diagnoses

A "one-stop" service for patients suspected of a rare cancer in Devon has more than halved the average time for diagnosis.

The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said the facility at Exeter's Nightingale Hospital was helping patients suspected of sarcoma - a type of malignant tumour in bone and connective tissue - get a quicker diagnosis.

The trust said the resource was giving people access to specialist diagnostic, surgical and cancer nurse support services in one day.

Woan-Yi Chan, specialist plastic and reconstructive sarcoma surgeon, said: "The service has cut the time from referral to diagnosis from an average of 40 days to 12 days."

The trust said during a single visit, patients would undergo an ultrasound scan, either an MRI or CT scan or both, and guided biopsy.

It added the process had reduced the number of individual appointments for some patients from four to one.

Ms Chan said the shorter time before diagnosis meant they could start treatment more quickly if patients did have cancer and they could provide "peace of mind" for those patients who did not.

She added: "I'm really pleased to see the teamwork between sarcoma radiologists, surgeons and supporting colleagues has developed a more efficient pathway."

The trust said the service is based at the Buttercup unit, which opened in 2024.

Consultant musculoskeletal radiologist Dr Rahul Anaspure said: "The one-stop service is the only one if its kind in the South West and we're incredibly proud of the difference it is making."

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