Skip to main content

Together we are beating cancer

Donate now

Cancer News

Diagnosing cancer

Showing 12 out of 797 results
That Cancer Conversation in a white speech bubble with a dark blue background

Is the future of cancer detection in our blood? Our latest podcast episode looks into liquid biopsies, tests that use tumour DNA to help find, track and treat cancer. Professor Nitzan Rosenfeld, a liquid biopsy pioneer, shares all the details. Is the future of cancer detection in our blood? Our latest podcast episode looks into liquid biopsies, tests that use tumour DNA to help find, track and treat cancer. Professor Nitzan Rosenfeld, a liquid biopsy pioneer, shares all the details.

by Cancer Research UK | Podcast | 19 February 2026

19 February 2026

This entry is part 34 of 34 in the series That Cancer Conversation
A woman facing away from the camera looks at medicine on pharmacy shelves.

With our funding, researchers at Imperial College London are investigating whether we can look for patterns in the medicines people buy to identify very early-stage cancers. With our funding, researchers at Imperial College London are investigating whether we can look for patterns in the medicines people buy to identify very early-stage cancers.

by Tim Gunn | News | 2 February 2026

2 February 2026

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

NHS England has announced it will up the sensitivity of bowel cancer screening tests, a change that should help save more lives from the country's second leading cause of cancer death. NHS England has announced it will up the sensitivity of bowel cancer screening tests, a change that should help save more lives from the country's second leading cause of cancer death.

by Tim Gunn | News | 26 January 2026

26 January 2026

A patient and a GP having a discussion in the GP's office.

The UK NSC's proposed programme would invite 45 to 61-year-old men with BRCA mutations for prostate cancer screening every two years. Here's what it means and what will happen next. The UK NSC's proposed programme would invite 45 to 61-year-old men with BRCA mutations for prostate cancer screening every two years. Here's what it means and what will happen next.

by Cancer Research UK | Analysis | 28 November 2025

28 November 2025

A close up shot of a person putting the bowel cancer test sample in the sample holder to send off by mail for testing.
  • Health & Medicine
  • Policy & Insight

How are cancer screening programmes decided in the UK?

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

This entry is part 5 of 6 in the series The National Cancer Plan for England
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