Media Centre
Our latest news and
announcements.
.webp)
C the Signs Launches Womb Cancer Self-Referral Service
C the Signs
Somerset, UK - August 2024
C the Signs, in partnership with Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, is proud to announce the launch of a pioneering new self-referral service designed to transform the early diagnosis of endometrial (womb) cancer.
Using artificial intelligence, women over 50 can now complete a quick, evidence-based assessment - and if there is any indication of cancer risk, they are triaged immediately and booked in for an ultrasound scan.
This UK-first pathway is accelerating earlier and faster detection in post-menopausal women - a group at higher risk of developing endometrial cancer.
Transforming Access to Early Diagnosis
Endometrial cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting women in the UK, with over 9,700 new cases diagnosed each year. When found early, five-year survival rates reach 90%. In the latest stages, that drops to just 15%.
The new AI-powered self-referral pathway allows women experiencing post-menopausal bleeding or other symptoms of womb cancer to refer themselves directly for testing - without needing to contact their GP first.
This streamlined approach ensures faster access to diagnostic services and helps women get the right care at the right time.
A Clinically-Led Approach to Earlier Detection
“People will be able to get a diagnosis much earlier than before,”
said David Milliken, Consultant Gynaecological Oncologist at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust.
“We are seeing a year-on-year increase in referrals to our gynaecology cancer services, particularly for post-menopausal bleeding. By allowing patients to access our service directly via self-referral, we can avoid unnecessary delays and get them an appointment much more quickly.”
Dr Milliken added:
“This will also free up GP colleagues so they can see patients with other conditions. More than nine out of every ten women referred to our service will not have cancer. We hope this service will help to reassure the majority more quickly — and identify those who need treatment sooner.”
Empowering Women with Faster Access and Reassurance
Women’s health has long faced barriers to timely diagnosis and equitable care.
Helen Hyndman MBE, Ask Eve Nurse Service Co-ordinator at The Eve Appeal, praised the initiative:
“C the Signs’ self-referral service empowers patients by raising awareness of the symptoms of womb cancer and offering those experiencing post-menopausal bleeding a quicker appointment, closer to home. This will help provide reassurance and should increase the chances of womb cancer being diagnosed earlier, offering better outcomes.”
AI Innovation Driving a New Standard of Care
This initiative marks a significant step forward for women’s health - not just in reducing delays, but in empowering women with knowledge and faster access to life-saving diagnostics.
By simplifying the route to diagnosis, C the Signs and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust are setting a new national standard for how patients can access cancer diagnostic services across the NHS.
Dr Jude Gordon, Clinical Director at C the Signs, explained:
“At C the Signs, our mission is to break down barriers to earlier and faster cancer diagnosis. By enabling women to take control of their health and assess their symptoms, we’re ensuring faster access to specialist services and the right care at the right time - increasing the chances of surviving cancer.”
Scaling Early Detection Across the NHS
This pathway is the first of several AI-enabled self-referral services being launched across the NHS.
C the Signs will soon expand the model to include pathways for colorectal (bowel) and lung cancer, furthering its mission to make early detection a standard for all, not a privilege for some.
Together with Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, C the Signs is advancing women’s health, improving equity of access, and giving more people the time and opportunity that early diagnosis provides.
Contact
To learn more about how C the Signs can accelerate cancer diagnosis in your region,
contact hello@cthesigns.com or visit cthesigns.com
C the Signs Launches Across 70 GP Practices in Dorset ICS
In partnership with NHS England’s InHIP Programme, Dorset Integrated Care System Cancer Programme, NHS Dorset, and Health Innovation Wessex, the C the Signs Cancer Clinical Decision Support System has now been launched across all 70 GP practices in Dorset - marking a major step forward in the region’s efforts to detect cancer earlier and improve survival outcomes.
Transforming Cancer Diagnosis Across Dorset
Dorset’s population has one of the highest rates of cancer in the UK, with its older demographic particularly vulnerable to late diagnosis.
When cancer is found early, lives can be transformed - for example, over 90% of patients survive colorectal cancer for five years or more when diagnosed early, compared to less than 10% when detected late.
By supporting GPs to identify at-risk patients at the earliest possible stage, C the Signs is helping to ensure that every patient in Dorset has an equal chance of earlier detection and better outcomes.
Reducing Inequalities, Increasing Access
Working in alignment with NHS England’s Core20PLUS5 approach to tackling healthcare inequalities, this partnership focuses on raising awareness, increasing community engagement, and ensuring equitable access to cancer diagnostics - particularly in areas of high deprivation.
The rollout is part of the InHIP (Innovation for Healthcare Inequalities Programme), designed to reduce variation in access to care and improve outcomes across the country.
“One of our key priorities is to add healthy life years to people living in Dorset, and early detection of cancer symptoms is key to achieving this.
When caught early, survival rates are greatly improved — and we are confident C the Signs will help us realise that ambition.”
— David Freeman, Chief Commissioning Officer and Deputy Chief Executive, NHS Dorset
Empowering Clinicians, Enabling Earlier Diagnosis
The C the Signs platform integrates directly with GP systems, including EMIS and SystmOne, analysing patient symptoms, risk factors, and medical history to help GPs identify potential cancer risk in under 30 seconds.
By supporting decision-making at the point of care, the platform is helping to reduce missed diagnoses, speed up referrals, and ensure patients access the right tests and pathways sooner.
This initiative is another step towards making early diagnosis the standard - not the exception - across the NHS.
A Shared Mission
“We’re proud to partner with NHS Dorset, Health Innovation Wessex, and NHS England’s InHIP programme to bring our platform to every GP practice in the region.
Together, we’re working to ensure every patient - regardless of where they live - has the best possible chance of surviving cancer.”
— Dr Bea Bakshi, Co-Founder and CEO, C the Signs
Driving Impact Across the NHS
C the Signs is now used by over 10,000 healthcare professionals across 1,500 GP practices, helping detect a patient with cancer every 22 minutes and supporting early detection across more than 100 cancer types.
By combining AI, clinical evidence, and national cancer pathways, C the Signs continues to redefine what’s possible in cancer detection - giving patients back time, choice, and hope.
📖 Read the full article on HSJ: www.hsj.co.uk
📩 Contact us at hello@cthesigns.com to learn how C the Signs can accelerate early cancer diagnosis in your region.
Elevating the Role of Nurses in Early Cancer Detection - RCN x C the Signs Webinar
On 9 September 2025, C the Signs and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) co-hosted a pivotal webinar titled “The role of primary care nurses in early cancer diagnosis.” The Royal College of Nursing in bringing together nursing professionals, primary care leaders, and clinical innovators, the event made clear that earlier detection of cancer is not just about tools - it’s about people, processes, and partnership.
Why this webinar mattered
- A vital gap to fill. Almost half of cancers in the UK are still diagnosed at a late stage, when treatment is less effective. The Royal College of Nursing In primary care, symptoms are frequently vague or non-specific - meaning the margin for error is narrow, and the cost of delay is high.
- Nurses are central. Whether as practice nurses, advanced nurse practitioners, healthcare assistants, or part of the wider team, nursing staff are often the first to see patients, triage symptoms, and coordinate care escalation. This webinar affirmed their critical role in recognising risk, escalating appropriately, and helping patients navigate diagnostics.
- Digital support can change outcomes. The session introduced how clinical decision support systems - like C the Signs - can augment clinical vigilance, helping teams to assess cancer risk faster, more consistently, and more equitably.
What the webinar covered
The agenda was structured to bridge theory and practice. Key themes included:
- Challenges of early diagnosis in primary care - recognising “red flags” and patterns when symptoms are ambiguous.
- NICE cancer guidelines in real life - translating guidance into day-to-day decisions.
- Case studies - including FIT (faecal immunochemical test), PSA, cervical screening, post-menopausal bleeding, and more.
- Team roles & escalation - how every member of the practice team contributes to spotting and acting on cancer risk.
- Clinical decision support in action - how platforms like C the Signs streamline assessment, flag risk, and suggest appropriate referral pathways.
- Interactive Q&A - giving attendees a chance to probe, challenge, and learn.
What this means in practice
The webinar reaffirmed a powerful shift: early cancer detection will increasingly be achieved not by siloed brilliance, but by connected teams working with intelligent augmentation.
- Nurses become more empowered to act on subtle cues, supported by systems that help flag risk early.
- Diagnostic pathways get activated sooner, shortening the time between suspicion and investigation.
- Inequalities may shrink: consistent decision support helps reduce variation in care across regions and teams.
This aligns with the real-world impact C the Signs is already showing. In GP practices using the platform, cancer detection rates have improved (for example, a jump from 58.7 % to 66.0 % in a study of 35 practices) - doing so without burden to the clinicians.
Voices from the session
One comment from the live discussion echoed what many already believe:
“Even when symptoms don’t look classic, having a prompt or nudge helps us check further rather than wait.”
That underscores exactly why combining human expertise with AI is transformative - we don’t replace intuition or experience, we sharpen and scale them.
Looking ahead: how to make this real
To turn the insights from the webinar into frontline change, we need action:
- Embed tools in everyday workflows. Decision support systems must feel seamless - integrated into existing electronic record systems, not a bolt-on.
- Invest in training & trust. Clinicians need confidence in AI, through education, demonstration, and peer support.
- Track outcomes & learning. Monitor how decision tools affect referral patterns, stage at diagnosis, and equity across populations.
- Champion policy & resource alignment. Systemic support - from commissioners, health systems, and regulators - is essential to scale early detection equitably.
Rewriting what’s possible
The RCN – C the Signs Webinar wasn’t just another educational event - it was a statement of purpose. It reaffirmed that nurses are pivotal to rewriting cancer’s timeline. It showed us that technology, when built with care and aligned to workflow, can restore precious time to patients. And it made clear that early detection is not a dream - it’s an imperative we can deliver together.
At C the Signs, our mission is to give people back time, choice, and life through earlier, safer, more equitable diagnosis. That mission comes alive when we partner with frontline clinicians - and this webinar is just one step in the journey. The transformation is underway, and we’re leading it together.
Featured
Cancer in Numbers: Why Interception Matters with Dr Miles Payling
Dr. Miles Payling
At the inaugural C the Signs Conference, Dr Miles Payling - Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer - delivered a message that captured the spirit of the movement redefining how the world detects cancer.
In a talk that fused science with humanity, he spoke not only about technology, but about time and how every second counts in the journey to early diagnosis.
“We can’t afford to wait for symptoms to become obvious. Every moment matters - because every moment lost is a choice, a treatment, a life that could have been saved.”
The Why - Where It All Began
Miles began with the story that shaped C the Signs’ mission. As an NHS doctor, he met a patient named Joe - fit, active, and 60 years old. After several GP visits with vague symptoms, Joe arrived at A&E jaundiced and weak. Scans confirmed metastatic pancreatic cancer. Three weeks later, Joe died.
“Joe never asked, why do I have cancer? What he asked was, why was my cancer picked up so late?”
That single question became the foundation of C the Signs - a platform designed to detect cancer early enough to change the outcome .
Today, that vision saves time and lives - with a patient with cancer detected every 22 minutes.
Why Early Detection Still Fails Too Many
Cancer remains the leading cause of death in the UK, with survival determined by the stage at diagnosis.
For breast cancer, five-year survival is 97.9 % at stage 1 but just 26.2 % at stage 4.
For bowel cancer, it falls from 91.7 % to 10.3 % .
Yet only 58.7 % of patients are diagnosed at early stages .
In primary care - where 90 % of all NHS patient contact takes place - GPs face impossible pressures: 10-minute consultations, thousands of patients, and on average just eight new cancer diagnoses a year .
“The problem isn’t people. It’s knowledge. We need to give every GP the power of precision - instantly.”
The Innovation - Redefining What’s Possible
C the Signs is an AI-powered, pan-cancer platform integrated directly with electronic health records. In under 30 seconds, it assesses risk, predicts tumour origin, and guides clinicians to the right diagnostic pathway across 100+ cancer types.
Real-world evaluations across the NHS have shown:
- 99 % sensitivity - finding nearly all patients with cancer
- 99 % negative predictive value - safely ruling out risk
- 94 % accuracy in predicting tumour origin
- 50 % reduction in emergency cancer presentations
- 21 % faster time-to-diagnosis - from 85 days to 67 days
Each figure represents a human life identified earlier, a family spared uncertainty, and a system made stronger.
The Movement - Honouring Jess’s Rule
Miles closed his speech by reflecting on Jessica Brady’s story - a 27-year-old whose symptoms were missed, leading to a late diagnosis and preventable loss .
To honour her legacy, C the Signs is implementing “Jess’s Rule” - a feature that automatically alerts clinicians when a patient presents three times or more with unresolved symptoms, and triggers a cancer risk assessment .
“We can turn tragedy into transformation - by ensuring that no patient is ever overlooked again.”
Together, we can make early cancer detection a standard for all, not a privilege for some - and give every person the time they deserve.
Partnerships
C the Signs Launches Womb Cancer Self-Referral Service
Somerset, UK - August 2024
C the Signs, in partnership with Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, is proud to announce the launch of a pioneering new self-referral service designed to transform the early diagnosis of endometrial (womb) cancer.
Using artificial intelligence, women over 50 can now complete a quick, evidence-based assessment - and if there is any indication of cancer risk, they are triaged immediately and booked in for an ultrasound scan.
This UK-first pathway is accelerating earlier and faster detection in post-menopausal women - a group at higher risk of developing endometrial cancer.
Transforming Access to Early Diagnosis
Endometrial cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting women in the UK, with over 9,700 new cases diagnosed each year. When found early, five-year survival rates reach 90%. In the latest stages, that drops to just 15%.
The new AI-powered self-referral pathway allows women experiencing post-menopausal bleeding or other symptoms of womb cancer to refer themselves directly for testing - without needing to contact their GP first.
This streamlined approach ensures faster access to diagnostic services and helps women get the right care at the right time.
A Clinically-Led Approach to Earlier Detection
“People will be able to get a diagnosis much earlier than before,”
said David Milliken, Consultant Gynaecological Oncologist at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust.
“We are seeing a year-on-year increase in referrals to our gynaecology cancer services, particularly for post-menopausal bleeding. By allowing patients to access our service directly via self-referral, we can avoid unnecessary delays and get them an appointment much more quickly.”
Dr Milliken added:
“This will also free up GP colleagues so they can see patients with other conditions. More than nine out of every ten women referred to our service will not have cancer. We hope this service will help to reassure the majority more quickly — and identify those who need treatment sooner.”
Empowering Women with Faster Access and Reassurance
Women’s health has long faced barriers to timely diagnosis and equitable care.
Helen Hyndman MBE, Ask Eve Nurse Service Co-ordinator at The Eve Appeal, praised the initiative:
“C the Signs’ self-referral service empowers patients by raising awareness of the symptoms of womb cancer and offering those experiencing post-menopausal bleeding a quicker appointment, closer to home. This will help provide reassurance and should increase the chances of womb cancer being diagnosed earlier, offering better outcomes.”
AI Innovation Driving a New Standard of Care
This initiative marks a significant step forward for women’s health - not just in reducing delays, but in empowering women with knowledge and faster access to life-saving diagnostics.
By simplifying the route to diagnosis, C the Signs and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust are setting a new national standard for how patients can access cancer diagnostic services across the NHS.
Dr Jude Gordon, Clinical Director at C the Signs, explained:
“At C the Signs, our mission is to break down barriers to earlier and faster cancer diagnosis. By enabling women to take control of their health and assess their symptoms, we’re ensuring faster access to specialist services and the right care at the right time - increasing the chances of surviving cancer.”
Scaling Early Detection Across the NHS
This pathway is the first of several AI-enabled self-referral services being launched across the NHS.
C the Signs will soon expand the model to include pathways for colorectal (bowel) and lung cancer, furthering its mission to make early detection a standard for all, not a privilege for some.
Together with Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, C the Signs is advancing women’s health, improving equity of access, and giving more people the time and opportunity that early diagnosis provides.
Contact
To learn more about how C the Signs can accelerate cancer diagnosis in your region,
contact hello@cthesigns.com or visit cthesigns.com
C the Signs Launches Across 70 GP Practices in Dorset ICS
In partnership with NHS England’s InHIP Programme, Dorset Integrated Care System Cancer Programme, NHS Dorset, and Health Innovation Wessex, the C the Signs Cancer Clinical Decision Support System has now been launched across all 70 GP practices in Dorset - marking a major step forward in the region’s efforts to detect cancer earlier and improve survival outcomes.
Transforming Cancer Diagnosis Across Dorset
Dorset’s population has one of the highest rates of cancer in the UK, with its older demographic particularly vulnerable to late diagnosis.
When cancer is found early, lives can be transformed - for example, over 90% of patients survive colorectal cancer for five years or more when diagnosed early, compared to less than 10% when detected late.
By supporting GPs to identify at-risk patients at the earliest possible stage, C the Signs is helping to ensure that every patient in Dorset has an equal chance of earlier detection and better outcomes.
Reducing Inequalities, Increasing Access
Working in alignment with NHS England’s Core20PLUS5 approach to tackling healthcare inequalities, this partnership focuses on raising awareness, increasing community engagement, and ensuring equitable access to cancer diagnostics - particularly in areas of high deprivation.
The rollout is part of the InHIP (Innovation for Healthcare Inequalities Programme), designed to reduce variation in access to care and improve outcomes across the country.
“One of our key priorities is to add healthy life years to people living in Dorset, and early detection of cancer symptoms is key to achieving this.
When caught early, survival rates are greatly improved — and we are confident C the Signs will help us realise that ambition.”
— David Freeman, Chief Commissioning Officer and Deputy Chief Executive, NHS Dorset
Empowering Clinicians, Enabling Earlier Diagnosis
The C the Signs platform integrates directly with GP systems, including EMIS and SystmOne, analysing patient symptoms, risk factors, and medical history to help GPs identify potential cancer risk in under 30 seconds.
By supporting decision-making at the point of care, the platform is helping to reduce missed diagnoses, speed up referrals, and ensure patients access the right tests and pathways sooner.
This initiative is another step towards making early diagnosis the standard - not the exception - across the NHS.
A Shared Mission
“We’re proud to partner with NHS Dorset, Health Innovation Wessex, and NHS England’s InHIP programme to bring our platform to every GP practice in the region.
Together, we’re working to ensure every patient - regardless of where they live - has the best possible chance of surviving cancer.”
— Dr Bea Bakshi, Co-Founder and CEO, C the Signs
Driving Impact Across the NHS
C the Signs is now used by over 10,000 healthcare professionals across 1,500 GP practices, helping detect a patient with cancer every 22 minutes and supporting early detection across more than 100 cancer types.
By combining AI, clinical evidence, and national cancer pathways, C the Signs continues to redefine what’s possible in cancer detection - giving patients back time, choice, and hope.
📖 Read the full article on HSJ: www.hsj.co.uk
📩 Contact us at hello@cthesigns.com to learn how C the Signs can accelerate early cancer diagnosis in your region.
Elevating the Role of Nurses in Early Cancer Detection - RCN x C the Signs Webinar
On 9 September 2025, C the Signs and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) co-hosted a pivotal webinar titled “The role of primary care nurses in early cancer diagnosis.” The Royal College of Nursing in bringing together nursing professionals, primary care leaders, and clinical innovators, the event made clear that earlier detection of cancer is not just about tools - it’s about people, processes, and partnership.
Why this webinar mattered
- A vital gap to fill. Almost half of cancers in the UK are still diagnosed at a late stage, when treatment is less effective. The Royal College of Nursing In primary care, symptoms are frequently vague or non-specific - meaning the margin for error is narrow, and the cost of delay is high.
- Nurses are central. Whether as practice nurses, advanced nurse practitioners, healthcare assistants, or part of the wider team, nursing staff are often the first to see patients, triage symptoms, and coordinate care escalation. This webinar affirmed their critical role in recognising risk, escalating appropriately, and helping patients navigate diagnostics.
- Digital support can change outcomes. The session introduced how clinical decision support systems - like C the Signs - can augment clinical vigilance, helping teams to assess cancer risk faster, more consistently, and more equitably.
What the webinar covered
The agenda was structured to bridge theory and practice. Key themes included:
- Challenges of early diagnosis in primary care - recognising “red flags” and patterns when symptoms are ambiguous.
- NICE cancer guidelines in real life - translating guidance into day-to-day decisions.
- Case studies - including FIT (faecal immunochemical test), PSA, cervical screening, post-menopausal bleeding, and more.
- Team roles & escalation - how every member of the practice team contributes to spotting and acting on cancer risk.
- Clinical decision support in action - how platforms like C the Signs streamline assessment, flag risk, and suggest appropriate referral pathways.
- Interactive Q&A - giving attendees a chance to probe, challenge, and learn.
What this means in practice
The webinar reaffirmed a powerful shift: early cancer detection will increasingly be achieved not by siloed brilliance, but by connected teams working with intelligent augmentation.
- Nurses become more empowered to act on subtle cues, supported by systems that help flag risk early.
- Diagnostic pathways get activated sooner, shortening the time between suspicion and investigation.
- Inequalities may shrink: consistent decision support helps reduce variation in care across regions and teams.
This aligns with the real-world impact C the Signs is already showing. In GP practices using the platform, cancer detection rates have improved (for example, a jump from 58.7 % to 66.0 % in a study of 35 practices) - doing so without burden to the clinicians.
Voices from the session
One comment from the live discussion echoed what many already believe:
“Even when symptoms don’t look classic, having a prompt or nudge helps us check further rather than wait.”
That underscores exactly why combining human expertise with AI is transformative - we don’t replace intuition or experience, we sharpen and scale them.
Looking ahead: how to make this real
To turn the insights from the webinar into frontline change, we need action:
- Embed tools in everyday workflows. Decision support systems must feel seamless - integrated into existing electronic record systems, not a bolt-on.
- Invest in training & trust. Clinicians need confidence in AI, through education, demonstration, and peer support.
- Track outcomes & learning. Monitor how decision tools affect referral patterns, stage at diagnosis, and equity across populations.
- Champion policy & resource alignment. Systemic support - from commissioners, health systems, and regulators - is essential to scale early detection equitably.
Rewriting what’s possible
The RCN – C the Signs Webinar wasn’t just another educational event - it was a statement of purpose. It reaffirmed that nurses are pivotal to rewriting cancer’s timeline. It showed us that technology, when built with care and aligned to workflow, can restore precious time to patients. And it made clear that early detection is not a dream - it’s an imperative we can deliver together.
At C the Signs, our mission is to give people back time, choice, and life through earlier, safer, more equitable diagnosis. That mission comes alive when we partner with frontline clinicians - and this webinar is just one step in the journey. The transformation is underway, and we’re leading it together.