Media Centre

An independent evaluation commissioned by Health Innovation East, presented at the ASCO Care Quality Symposium 2025 and published in JCO Oncology Practice, has found that our work to support earlier cancer diagnosis delivered an 808% return on investment (ROI) for the NHS.

The study showed that implementation across Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) led to 272 patients being diagnosed earlier and £1.5 million in annual cost savings - clear evidence that innovation within primary care can improve outcomes while releasing valuable capacity across the system.

Helping Clinicians Detect Cancer Sooner

We partner with NHS organisations to help GPs identify patients at risk of cancer earlier - analysing routinely collected clinical data to highlight subtle patterns that might otherwise be missed.

By supporting accurate triage and reducing unnecessary urgent suspected cancer (USC) referrals, our work enables earlier diagnosis, eases pressure on diagnostic services, and helps clinicians focus on the patients who need urgent investigation.

“This study provides clear evidence that innovation can make a measurable impact on cancer care,” said Dr Miles Payling, Chief Scientific Officer at C the Signs. “An 800% return on investment means we’re improving early diagnosis and helping the NHS use its resources more efficiently - a practical example of technology making care better for both patients and clinicians.”

Evidence of Earlier Detection

The findings build on earlier research, also published in JCO Oncology Practice, which showed that GP practices using our system achieved a 12% increase in cancer detection rates - from 58.7% to 66.0% - without increasing referral activity.

Together, these studies confirm that our approach helps clinicians detect more cancers at an earlier stage while maintaining stable referral volumes - supporting NHS priorities around early diagnosis, productivity, and elective recovery.

“Early diagnosis gives patients the best chance of successful treatment,” said Dr Seema Dadhania, Clinical Oncologist at Imperial College London and lead author of the study. “This work is helping primary care clinicians identify subtle cancer presentations that can otherwise be missed - improving detection while reducing unnecessary referrals.”

Scaling Across the East of England

Following the success in Suffolk and North East Essex, Health Innovation East has supported expansion across Norfolk and Waveney ICB, with further roll-outs planned across the East of England.

Driving Sustainable Early Diagnosis

Across the NHS, our technology now supports more than 1,500 GP practices, with real-world data showing improvements in cancer detection rates, emergency presentation reduction, and time to diagnosis.

By embedding decision support directly into everyday care, we’re helping the NHS deliver earlier diagnosis, better outcomes for patients, and a more sustainable use of resources - bringing the health service closer to its ambition of diagnosing 75% of cancers at stages 1 or 2.

Study Reference

Dadhania S., Payling M., Moss M., Gordon J., Bakshi B. (2025).
Implementing an AI triage platform for identification and management of patients suspected of cancer risk to improve elective recovery post-pandemic.
JCO Oncology Practice, 21(10_suppl), 32.
Presented at: ASCO Care Quality Symposium 2025
Commissioned by: Health Innovation East
Setting: Suffolk and North East Essex ICB (population 1.1 million)
Findings: £1.5 million annual savings | 808% ROI | 272 patients diagnosed earlier | 12,374 USC referrals avoided

For media requests, interviews, or speaking opportunities, please contact:

social@cthesigns.com / press@cthesigns.com

‍

Earlier this month, Joe Powell, Member of Parliament for Kensington and Bayswater, visited Golborne Medical Centre to see how local GPs are using C the Signs.

Hosted by Dr Meena Nathan and Dr Thushara Goonewardene, the visit brought together community clinicians, C the Signs Co-Founder Dr Miles Payling, and local leaders to explore how innovation, teamwork, and community engagement are transforming early diagnosis in one of London’s most diverse communities.

Transforming Early Diagnosis in Primary Care

Inside the busy surgery, clinicians demonstrated how C the Signs supports decision-making in real time - analysing patient records, symptoms, and risk factors to surface hidden indicators of cancer during routine appointments.

“We’re still early in the rollout, but already it’s helping us prioritise patients who might otherwise slip through the cracks,” one clinician shared.

C the Signs’ AI models - validated across more than 500,000 patient records - have achieved 99% sensitivity for cancer detection and 94% accuracy in predicting tumour origin. In real-world NHS evaluations, practices using C the Signs have seen a 50% reduction in emergency cancer diagnoses and a 20–50% improvement in time to diagnosis.

Discussions during the visit focused on addressing barriers such as low screening uptake and under-detection in harder-to-spot cancers like pancreatic and lung - areas where C the Signs’ AI-driven case finding is already being deployed across the NHS.

Community, Compassion and Continuity

Beyond technology, clinicians emphasised the human side of early diagnosis.
One GP described how her team intervened when a patient’s surgery was nearly cancelled due to language barriers:

“She came in completely distraught. We stepped in, made the calls, got her rebooked. That kind of support takes time - but it changes everything.”

The Golborne team highlighted how community partnerships and culturally sensitive communication remain critical to ensuring that early diagnosis reaches every patient.

“It all starts with education,” said another clinician. “We saw what community groups achieved during the pandemic - those links still exist, but time is our biggest limitation.”

Facing the Pressures in Primary Care

The visit also revealed the realities of delivering proactive, preventative care in a high-demand urban setting. With limited space, the team frequently repurposes rooms - even corridors - to ensure every patient is seen. Expansion plans are already underway to increase clinical capacity next year.

Despite these pressures, Golborne’s clinicians continue to innovate, integrating mental health support, opportunistic health checks, and early-diagnosis prompts into every consultation.

“Our patients work with us,” said a member of the Golborne team. “They know we’re doing our best - and they appreciate that.”

Partnership Beyond the Practice

Speaking after the visit, Joe Powell MP emphasised the importance of collaboration between community, technology, and health services:

“What’s happening here in Golborne - between GPs, community groups, and innovators like C the Signs - is exactly the kind of joined-up approach we need to deliver earlier diagnosis and better care.”

He also called for stronger links across the Integrated Care Board (ICB) and better alignment between voluntary and statutory services to tackle the wider determinants of health - from housing to mental wellbeing.

Dr Miles Payling, Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer at C the Signs, added:

“Early diagnosis begins in communities - in everyday conversations between GPs and patients, supported by technology that empowers those moments. Every 22 minutes, C the Signs helps detect another patient with cancer. What’s happening in Golborne shows how innovation can give patients back the one thing cancer takes away: time.”

Why It Matters

C the Signs was built by NHS doctors to work within existing systems and integrate seamlessly with primary-care workflows. Today, it is commissioned in over 1,500 GP practices, covering more than 10 million patient lives across the UK.

By enabling faster, more accurate triage and supporting clinicians at the point of care, the platform is redefining how cancer is detected - turning complex data into actionable insight and giving every patient a better chance of being seen in time.

For most patients, their GP is the starting point on the path to early diagnosis.

Every year, GPs across the UK see millions of people with symptoms that could - but rarely do - indicate cancer. Recognising which of those subtle signs matter most is critical. At C the Signs, we’re helping GPs identify cancer symptoms sooner, combining AI-driven clinical insight with trusted medical evidence to turn uncertainty into action.

The Challenge of Early Cancer Diagnosis in Primary Care

Cancer doesn’t always present clearly.

A persistent cough. Fatigue. Unexplained weight loss.

These are symptoms GPs encounter daily - most often caused by benign conditions, but sometimes the earliest indicators of cancer.

With over 200 cancer types and thousands of possible symptom combinations, even the most experienced clinicians face a challenge: balancing vigilance with efficiency in a 10-minute consultation.

That’s where C the Signs comes in - using data, evidence, and artificial intelligence to ensure no symptom is overlooked.

Turning Complexity Into Clarity

The C the Signs platform analyses symptoms, risk factors, demographics, and clinical data in seconds — highlighting when a patient may be at risk and guiding the clinician to the right next step.

By integrating directly with EMIS and SystmOne, the platform works seamlessly within NHS systems, enabling GPs to:

• Quickly cross-check symptoms against validated cancer pathways
• Identify rare or non-specific presentations earlier
• Refer patients confidently to the most appropriate service
  

This means patients at risk of cancer receive investigations and treatment sooner — when outcomes are most favourable.

Building Confidence Through Clinical Support

C the Signs isn’t just a platform - it’s built to work with clinicians, not instead of them. It brings together the best available evidence, national guidelines, and AI-powered insight into one clear, easy-to-use interface.

That means:

• Less diagnostic uncertainty
• More consistent, evidence-based referrals
• Improved patient safety and continuity of care
  

“C the Signs helps me confirm when my instincts are right — and sometimes, when they’re not.

It ensures that no patient slips through the net.”

— GP, North West England

Driving Early Diagnosis Across the NHS

By supporting GPs to recognise cancer symptoms earlier, C the Signs contributes directly to the NHS Long Term Plan ambition:

Diagnose 75% of cancers at stage 1 or 2 by 2028.

Across Primary Care Networks, Cancer Alliances, and Integrated Care Systems, GPs using C the Signs are already seeing measurable impact - with:

• More early referrals
• Faster diagnostic timelines
• Improved accuracy in identifying patients with cancer
  

Each earlier diagnosis means more patients receiving treatment when it can make the greatest difference - saving time, cost, and lives.

Beyond Technology - A Partnership for Change

Technology alone doesn’t transform healthcare - people do.

That’s why we work closely with GPs, practice nurses, and PCN teams to design and continually refine the platform based on real-world feedback.

Together, we’re transforming early cancer diagnosis from a reactive process into a proactive standard of care - one where every symptom is seen, every risk assessed, and every patient given the best possible chance.

We’re proud to share that Mayo Clinic Magazine has published an in-depth feature on C the Signs, spotlighting our journey, scientific breakthroughs, and mission to transform how cancer is diagnosed - globally.

Recognition from one of the world’s most respected medical institutions marks a new chapter in our mission to drive earlier detection, better outcomes, and a future where no patient is diagnosed too late.

A Story That Resonates

The feature, titled “C the Signs: Building digital solutions to find cancer up to five years sooner,” takes readers inside the origins and innovation behind our platform.

It begins with the story of Dr Bea Bakshi, who, after witnessing a patient’s late pancreatic cancer diagnosis during her time as an NHS doctor, was driven to ask a single question:

“What if we could help doctors spot the earliest signs of cancer - before it’s too late?”

From that question came the foundation for C the Signs - and the start of a new approach to early diagnosis.

The Mayo Clinic piece explores:

• How our AI models have been developed to detect patterns across multiple tumour types
• Our “closed-loop learning” system, which continuously refines itself with every patient interaction
• And our collaboration with Mayo Clinic’s Platform_Accelerate programme, enabling retrospective validation against diverse US patient datasets

One of the most powerful findings: in retrospective analysis, C the Signs identified cancers up to five years earlier in 26% of patients across the five highest-mortality cancer types - breast, colorectal, lung, prostate, and pancreatic.

That kind of lead time doesn’t just change statistics.
It changes lives. As our Co-Founder and CEO, Bea shared with Mayo Clinic:

“We’ve detected over 65,000 patients with cancer in the UK. In five years’ time, I want to be talking about the number of patient lives we’ve saved in the United States.”

Defying Time. Rewriting the Possible.

Our collaboration with Mayo Clinic reflects the next phase of our mission - building a future where early detection is standard for all, not a privilege for some.

Every earlier diagnosis is a life changed.
And every life changed redefines what’s possible.

-

Photography by Lincoln Gore / Mayo Clinic

At C the Signs, we believe no one should face a late cancer diagnosis.Our mission is clear and urgent - to empower every GP to detect cancer earlier and give every patient the best chance of survival.

Why We Started

Every two minutes, someone in the UK is diagnosed with cancer. For too many, it’s discovered too late - when options are fewer, outcomes are poorer, and lives are changed forever.

The challenge isn’t a lack of care or compassion - it’s the complexity of cancer itself. With over 100 cancer types and countless symptom combinations, even the most experienced GP can face uncertainty during those vital early consultations.

C the Signs was born from a single question:

“What if technology could help doctors spot the earliest signs of cancer - before it’s too late?”

That question became our why - and our purpose.

What We Do

C the Signs is an AI-powered clinical platform that helps healthcare professionals identify patients at risk of cancer - earlier, faster, and more accurately.

Our technology integrates directly with NHS electronic medical record systems like EMIS, SystmOne, and Vision, analysing combinations of:

• Signs and symptoms
• Risk factors and clinical markers
• Demographic and lifestyle data

Using validated algorithms and national evidence-based pathways, C the Signs supports GPs to assess cancer risk and identify the most appropriate referral or diagnostic route - in under 30 seconds.

The result: fewer missed cases, faster investigations, and more lives given back time.

How It Works

C the Signs combines artificial intelligence, clinical research, and national guidelines to transform medical decision-making.

1. Analyse – The platform reviews real-time patient data and symptom inputs.
2. Assess – AI cross-checks patterns against validated cancer pathways and the latest clinical evidence.
3. Act – GPs receive instant, tailored guidance on next steps - from urgent referrals to diagnostic tests.

By translating complex data into clear, actionable insights, C the Signs enables clinicians to make faster, more confident decisions - while maintaining full clinical autonomy.

Our Impact So Far

C the Signs is now used across the UK by over 10,000 healthcare professionals in 1,500 GP practices, helping identify patients with cancer every 22 minutes.

Validated through independent evaluations and peer-reviewed studies, the platform has shown:

• 99% sensitivity for identifying patients with cancer
• 99% negative predictive value, safely ruling out risk
• 94% accuracy in predicting tumour origin
• Stage shift in harder-to-detect cancers such as pancreatic and ovarian
• Faster time to diagnosis, reducing delays by over 20%
• More equitable detection, with fewer emergency presentations and earlier referrals across diverse populations

Every earlier diagnosis represents more time - and more life - for patients and their families.

The Team Behind the Mission

C the Signs was founded by Dr Bea Bakshi and Dr Miles Payling, two NHS doctors who saw firsthand how late diagnosis can cost lives.
Their experience on the frontline of care inspired a bold vision: a future where technology and medicine work together to make early cancer detection the norm — not the exception.

Today, our multidisciplinary team of clinicians, data scientists, and innovators share one purpose:
to end late cancer diagnosis, for good.

A Future Without Late Diagnosis

Our journey is just beginning.

We’re continuing to advance our AI, expanding across care settings - from primary to secondary care and beyond - to make early cancer detection universal and equitable.

Through partnerships with Cancer Alliances, Health Innovation Networks, and NHS England, we’re shaping a future where no symptom is overlooked and no patient waits too long to be seen.

Our vision is bold, but achievable:

A world where no patient is diagnosed too late.

Join Us

Whether you’re a GP, policymaker, or innovation partner - together, we can rewrite the story of cancer care.

👉 Learn more about our research and impact.
👉 Request a demo to see how C the Signs integrates with your NHS system.
👉 Join our mission to make early detection a standard for all.

‍

‍