Half a million

Cancer is not one disease - it includes more than 100 different types, many of them rare and hard to recognise early. This evaluation looked at how widely C the Signs identifies cancer risk across everyday primary care, using real patient data over several years. The findings show that earlier signals can be seen across both common and uncommon cancers, including those without screening programmes. It highlights the importance of supporting clinicians to recognise risk across the full spectrum of cancer, not just the most familiar types.

Some cancers are still routinely diagnosed too late, often because early risk is difficult to spot in general practice. When C the Signs was implemented across GP practices in Somerset, patterns of diagnosis began to change. The analysis showed a marked increase in early-stage cancer diagnoses across the region, including for cancers that are typically harder to identify. More precise risk assessment enabled clinicians to act sooner, leading to earlier intervention and better use of urgent pathways.

Many of the deadliest cancers give subtle signals long before diagnosis, but those clues are easy to miss. This research looked across five cancers where late diagnosis has the greatest impact on survival - lung, breast, prostate, colorectal and pancreatic. Using long-term health records from the Mayo Clinic, the findings show that earlier warning signs are often present years before diagnosis. Recognising those signals sooner could help clinicians intervene earlier, when more options are available and outcomes can be changed.

Late cancer diagnosis is one of the biggest drivers of cost and pressure in the NHS. This research looked at what changes when more people are diagnosed earlier, and when urgent cancer pathways are used more precisely. Using data from a large NHS region where C the Signs is already in place, the analysis showed how earlier diagnosis can reduce unnecessary referrals, save clinician time, and avoid the higher costs associated with late-stage treatment - supporting recovery without compromising care.

Endometrial cancer is the most common gynaecological cancer in the UK, yet symptoms are often overlooked or delayed. This work looked at what happened when women were able to assess their symptoms directly and be guided quickly to the right test. By enabling a patient-led route to investigation, the pathway reduced delays, removed barriers to access, and helped more women reach diagnosis and treatment sooner - often within days rather than months.

Many people with breast cancer are still diagnosed after symptoms appear, despite widespread screening. This research explored whether patterns in routine health records could help identify those patients earlier - before diagnosis is made in primary care. By analysing long-term data from the Mayo Clinic, the findings show that earlier signals of symptomatic breast cancer often exist years in advance. Recognising those signals sooner could help close the gap left by screening alone and support earlier action.

Lung cancer is still most often diagnosed after symptoms appear, when options are more limited. Screening uptake remains low, and chest X-rays can miss early disease. This research explored whether patterns in routine health records could help identify lung cancer risk earlier. Using long-term data from the Mayo Clinic, the findings show that earlier warning signs are often present years before diagnosis - creating an opportunity to act sooner and support earlier investigation.

Improving cancer detection at a local level can have a real impact on people’s lives. This evaluation looked at what changed after C the Signs was introduced across Horizon Primary Care Network in Manchester, serving a diverse population. By comparing results with regional and national benchmarks, the findings show how supporting clinicians to recognise risk earlier can lead to more cancers being diagnosed through primary care - and more being found at an early stage.

After the pandemic, urgent cancer pathways came under unprecedented pressure. Referrals rose sharply, but cancer detection did not rise at the same pace - leaving services stretched and patients waiting longer. This research looked at how C the Signs helps clinicians decide who needs urgent investigation, who needs tests first, and who can be safely reassured. The findings show how clearer triage can reduce pressure on the system, while keeping patients safe and focused on those at highest risk.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the hardest cancers to diagnose early. There is no routine screening, symptoms are often vague, and most people are diagnosed when options are already limited. This research explored whether patterns in long-term health records could help identify risk earlier. By analysing data from the Mayo Clinic, the findings show that earlier warning signs can exist years before diagnosis - offering a potential window for earlier investigation in a cancer where time matters most.

Ovarian cancer is one of the hardest cancers to spot early. Symptoms are often vague, easy to dismiss, and there is no effective screening programme - meaning many women are diagnosed late. This research looked at what changed when C the Signs was introduced in primary care. By helping clinicians recognise risk sooner, more women were diagnosed at an earlier stage, when treatment options are wider and outcomes are significantly better.

Prostate cancer is common, but early symptoms can be subtle and easy to overlook. This research explored whether patterns in routine health records could help identify risk earlier, before diagnosis is made in primary care. Using long-term data from the Mayo Clinic, the findings show that earlier signals of prostate cancer are often present years in advance. Recognising those signals sooner could support earlier investigation and increase opportunities for curative treatment.

Bowel cancer is increasingly being diagnosed after symptoms appear, even where screening is available. This research explored whether patterns in routine health records could help identify risk earlier - before cancer is suspected in primary care. Using long-term data from the Mayo Clinic, the findings show that earlier warning signs of colorectal cancer are often present years in advance. Recognising those signals sooner could support earlier testing and diagnosis, particularly for people who are not reached by screening programmes.

Across colorectal cancer referrals in Somerset, researchers examined what happened when C the Signs was introduced into the urgent suspected cancer pathway. Meeting the NHS Faster Diagnostic Standard is challenging, with many patients waiting longer than 28 days for a diagnosis or for cancer to be ruled out. The findings showed that when clinicians were supported to make earlier, more informed decisions at the point of referral, significantly more patients received answers within the 28-day target. This helped speed up diagnosis and reduce uncertainty for patients, without increasing pressure on referral pathways - demonstrating how better decision support can play a meaningful role in improving cancer care timelines.

Across everyday GP care in the East of England, researchers looked at what happened when C the Signs was introduced into primary care. Detecting cancer early is difficult - symptoms are often vague and easy to confuse with everyday illness. The findings showed that when clinicians were supported to recognise cancer risk sooner, more people were diagnosed through primary care, where outcomes are known to be better - without increasing referrals or workload.

Looking at real patient records across UK primary care, the research explored how often C the Signs could identify people who later received a cancer diagnosis. It showed that very few patients were missed, and that risk could often be recognised earlier than it otherwise would have been. What emerged from the data was clear: earlier diagnosis doesn’t require more tests or appointments - it comes from seeing existing clues sooner and acting with confidence.

Where someone lives should not determine how early their cancer is found. This research focused on GP practices in one of the most socio-economically deprived regions in England, where cancer outcomes are typically worse. It explored whether supporting clinicians with earlier, clearer risk signals could help narrow that gap. The findings show that cancer detection improved in deprived communities using C the Signs - without increasing pressure on referrals or services.