David Holden

David is the Patient and Public Involvement representative for the CanTest group at University College London and is very supportive of the research CanTest undertakes. To date, he has been involved in the design and interpretation of studies that look at:

• The role that co-morbidities (many health conditions) play on how quickly people are diagnosed with cancer;
• Whether the rate with which people consult their GP and prescriptions they receive can predict cancer in the future;
• How we can best implement the use of common blood tests to diagnose cancer.

Since his various operations and treatments David has also been involved as a PPI representative for University College London Hospitals (UCLH) and a number of Cancer Charities, particularly those involved in upper gastrointestinal cancers, and has set up some Patient Support Groups around the London/SE area including UCLH. He has also been involved in raising funds for Cancer Awareness.

David’s current interests include Cancer Awareness and persuading patients to see their doctors early with potential cancer-like symptoms, the rollout of Rapid Diagnostic Centres to improve waiting times by increasing and speeding up diagnostic results, under-resourced dietetics and the improvement of communication/IT both within hospital and with primary care providers.