What is being done to improve early detection and treatment of oesophageal cancer.

Better Cancer Care, An Action Plan recognised that early detection of cancer is crucial and the earlier it can be diagnosed, the better the chance of a positive outcome.
The Scottish Government is committed to improving awareness of possible cancer symptoms amongst members of the public and medical staff. The Scottish Cancer Taskforce (SCT) has been working with the Scottish Cancer Coalition in the area of awareness raising of cancer generally and recently held a national workshop to consider these issues in more detail. It will consider specific actions to help improve the awareness of cancer symptoms at a future meeting.
Action has been taken to ensure doctors across the country have up to date referral guidelines to ensure patients presenting with possible symptoms of oesophageal cancer are quickly and efficiently referred for further investigation. Such guidelines include SIGN Guideline 87 on the Management of Oesophageal and Gastric Cancer and SIGN Guideline 68 on Dyspepsia (which is due to be updated this year). Managed clinical networks use these guidelines to develop patient referral and care pathways.
Cancer services in Scotland have developed and improved significantly in recent years, with more doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals and state of the art equipment in all five cancer centres.