NEW research by Oxford scientists could significantly improve early diagnosis of a rare form of blood cancer.

Researchers found combinations of simple blood tests could help GPs detect and diagnose myeloma in practices.

Each year approximately 5,700 people are diagnosed with myeloma in the UK alone. It can lead to symptoms such as bone pain, fatigue and kidney failure. It has the longest diagnosis process of all common cancers, and a large number of patients are diagnosed after emergency care, over a third of which having had at least three primary care consultations.

Analysing blood tests of 2,703 cases, scientists were able to demonstrate that a simple combination of two blood parameters could be enough to diagnose patients. Such blood tests are routinely conducted in GP surgeries.

Lead author of the study, from Oxford University, Constantinos Koshiaris, said: 'The combination of levels of haemoglobin, the oxygen carrier in the blood, and one of two inflammatory markers are a sufficient test rule out myeloma. If abnormalities are detected in this test, it should lead to urgent urine protein tests which can help speed up diagnosis."

The authors also suggest the possibility of integrating a system in the electronic health record to alert clinicians to relevant symptoms or changes in blood related to myeloma.