Research in cancer

  • from the first symptoms to diagnosis, treatment and follow-up

Background

Cancer remains one of the most frequent causes of death in Denmark. Approximately 35,000 Danish residents are diagnosed with cancer each year. Due to better diagnostic methods and better treatment, the proportion of cancer survivors is increasing. Today, 383,327 Danes live with or after a diagnosis of cancer., and the number of cancer survivors is increasing by approx. 4 per cent each year.

The healthcare system must be capable of delivering the correct diagnosis quickly, with a focus on follow-up and recurrence. Most cancers are detected through symptom presentation in general practice. The group investigates the entire diagnostic process, ranging from the first symptoms to investigations, treatment, follow-up and recurrence in general practice, as well as the effect of fast-track cancer pathways. 

The research focuses on the following key areas:

  • The role of general practice in cancer follow-up
  • The role of general practice in the diagnosis of recurrence
  • The population's knowledge of cancer symptoms
  • The management of cancer symptoms in general practice
  • The organisational structures in the healthcare sector that influence the diagnosis of cancer.

Medical and epidemiological studies constitute an important basis for investigating these research topics, but the group also applies an interdisciplinary approach combining various theoretical frameworks, scientific methods and academic disciplines.

The research group collaborates closely with several hospital-based oncology departments and with partners in organisational research, psychology, anthropology, sociology and health economics.


Selected publications

  • Anaemia of inflammation and cancer risk according to comorbidity in patients aged 40-89 years: a Danish cohort study. BMC Cancer. 2025 Oct 15;25(1):1589. doi: 10.1186/s12885-025-14978-0.
  • Psychiatric disorders and the cancer diagnostic process in general practice: a combined questionnaire and register study exploring the patients' experiences in Denmark. doi.org/10.1080/02813432.2023.2296944.
  • Diagnostic pathways for breast cancer in 10 International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership (ICBP) jurisdictions: an international comparative cohort study based on questionnaire and registry data. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-059669.
  • Unplanned cancer presentation in patients with psychiatric disorders: A nationwide register-based cohort study in Denmark. doi: 10.1016/j.canep.2022.102293.
  • A nationwide register-study of healthcare utilisation in the year preceding a colorectal cancer recurrence diagnosis. doi.org/10.1111/ecc.13494.
  • Diagnosing pancreatic cancer in general practice: a cross-sectional study on associations between suspicion of cancer, urgent referral and time to diagnosis. doi.org/10.1080/02813432.2022.2036491.
  • Fear of cancer recurrence at 2.5 years after a cancer diagnosis: a cross-sectional study in Denmark. doi.org/10.1007/s00520-022-07335-5.
  • Healthcare use in the year preceding a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer: a register-based cohort study in Denmark. doi.org/10.1080/02813432.2022.2069730.
  • Routes to cancer diagnosis for patients with pre-existing psychiatric disorders: a nationwide register-based cohort study. doi.org/10.1186/s12885-022-09598-x.

Collaboration

The research group collaborates closely with hospital-based oncology departments and with partners in organisational research, psychology, anthropology, sociology and health economics.


Projects

  • Advanced care planning in lung cancer
  • Cancer and mental illness
  • Cancer among the elderly
  • Cancer recurrence
  • Fear of cancer recurrence
  • Haematologic cancers
  • Handling cancer risk in general practice
  • Ovarian cancer
  • Recurrent gastric cancer