000			01692cam a2200217 4500
001			NMDX7120
008			120401t2009 xxu||||| |||| 00| 0 eng d
100			_aDua, R.S.
240			_aInternational Journal of Surgery
245			_aThe two-week rule in colorectal cancer. Can it deliver its promise?
260			_c2009
500			_aNMUH Staff Publications
500			_a7
520			_a<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Despite recent advances in technology, a high percentage of patients with colorectal cancer present with disease that is already advanced, leading to an overall 5-year survival rate of 49.6% in men and 50.8% in women. In order to facilitate access to specialist cancer units, across specialities, the Department of Health formulated the NHS Cancer Plan in 2000 which consisted, in part, of the 'two-week rule' (TWR). The TWR was launched to ensure that all patients meeting specific referral criteria for suspected colorectal cancer were seen by a hospital specialist within 14 days of referral. The TWR referral system was set up with the intention of identifying 90% of patients with bowel cancer for prompt treatment. This study was conducted to investigate the difference in presentation between patients referred via the TWR pathway compared to those referred via an elective (non-TWR) route and to examine the impact of these referral routes on the time to treatment and clinical outcome.</span>
700			_aBrown, V.S.
700			_aLoukogeorgakis, S.P.
700			_aKallis, G.
700			_aMeleagros, L.
856			_uhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19732854
856			_uhttp://www.journal-surgery.net/article/S1743-9191(09)00116-2/pdf
999			_c76116 _d76116