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Diagnosing cancer

Showing 12 out of 792 results
A close up shot of a person putting the bowel cancer test sample in the sample holder to send off by mail for testing.

The UK has national screening programmes for cervical, bowel and breast cancer, with targeted lung screening being implemented in some regions. But how are they all decided? The UK has national screening programmes for cervical, bowel and breast cancer, with targeted lung screening being implemented in some regions. But how are they all decided?

by Cancer Research UK | Analysis | 21 November 2025

21 November 2025

Cells and DNA in blood
  • Health & Medicine
  • Science & Technology

What are liquid biopsies?

There’s a treasure trove of information in our blood, urine and saliva. We're using it to find and understand cancer. There’s a treasure trove of information in our blood, urine and saliva. We're using it to find and understand cancer.

by Emily Farthing | In depth | 13 November 2025

13 November 2025

An MRI image of a brain.
  • Health & Medicine
  • Science & Technology

From brain scans to better treatments

Our researchers have found a way to fully diagnose medulloblastoma, a type of childhood brain tumour, much faster, so doctors can make the best treatment decisions from the start. Our researchers have found a way to fully diagnose medulloblastoma, a type of childhood brain tumour, much faster, so doctors can make the best treatment decisions from the start.

by Emily Farthing | In depth | 13 November 2025

13 November 2025

Squamous epithelial cells of human cervix under the microscope view.
  • Health & Medicine
  • Science & Technology

70 years of progress in cervical cancer research

25 years ago, our scientists showed that nearly all cervical cancers are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). But that’s not where our story with cervical cancer research starts, and it certainly isn’t where it ends. 25 years ago, our scientists showed that nearly all cervical cancers are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). But that’s not where our story with cervical cancer research starts, and it certainly isn’t where it ends.

by Jacob Smith | In depth | 13 November 2025

13 November 2025

A woman reading a cancer information limit while waiting to see the doctor.

Early cancer diagnosis is critical to saving more lives. We've set out a new approach for the government to commit to in the National Cancer Plan to achieve this. Early cancer diagnosis is critical to saving more lives. We've set out a new approach for the government to commit to in the National Cancer Plan to achieve this.

by Cancer Research UK | In depth | 15 October 2025

15 October 2025

An extreme close-up of a skin patch that could help diagnose skin cancer held between someone's finder and thumb. The skin patch is transparent, and one side is covered with a grid of tiny needles.

Our researchers have developed a skin patch that doctors could apply to suspicious skin changes to quickly check for signs of skin cancer. It's a painless way to avoid unnecessary skin biopsies, and it could give answers in a matter of moments. Our researchers have developed a skin patch that doctors could apply to suspicious skin changes to quickly check for signs of skin cancer. It's a painless way to avoid unnecessary skin biopsies, and it could give answers in a matter of moments.

by Charlotte Hopwood, Tim Gunn | Analysis | 29 September 2025

29 September 2025

A microscopic image of a blood clot. There are many red blood cells and a single white blood cell held together in a meshwork of brown fibrin.

Our researchers have uncovered that platelets can hoover up cancer DNA, which suggests we could use them to detect cancers earlier. Our researchers have uncovered that platelets can hoover up cancer DNA, which suggests we could use them to detect cancers earlier.

by Amal Iman, Tim Gunn | Analysis | 14 August 2025

14 August 2025

A doctor sat behind her desk talking to a patient.

We just helped bring Scotland’s cancer referral guidelines in line with the latest evidence, and we want to make sure the rest of the UK is up to date, too. We just helped bring Scotland’s cancer referral guidelines in line with the latest evidence, and we want to make sure the rest of the UK is up to date, too.

by Charlotte Williamson | In depth | 11 August 2025

11 August 2025

A composite image showing Alfred, Ali and Lucy, who shared their stories to help show what's needed from the National Cancer Plan.

These four stories of people affected by cancer help show exactly what England needs from the UK Government's National Cancer Plan. These four stories of people affected by cancer help show exactly what England needs from the UK Government's National Cancer Plan.

by Amal Iman, Tom Bourton | Personal stories | 4 August 2025

4 August 2025