NHS North Central London Cancer Alliance logo

Your cancer pathway support guide

You can use this guide to learn more, ask questions and take notes.

Note there is a printer icon in each section, which can be used to print the whole guide or specific sections, along with any of the notes you may have taken.

Section One:

Investigation for your symptoms

Section Two

Your diagnosis

Section Three

Your treatment and follow-up

plus and minus icon You are referred for tests by your GP (or other healthcare professional) on an urgent suspected cancer referral to rule out cancer

Your GP or another healthcare professional can refer you for tests due to symptoms you may have told them about. These symptoms can sometimes be a sign of cancer. In many cases they are not cancer, but caused by other health conditions. But tests do need to be carried out to exclude a cancer diagnosis. In the UK, this is treated as high priority. This means that when cancer is suspected, there is a faster route to get further tests and specialist advice. This is known as an urgent suspected cancer referral.

This is the end of the guide. Please keep your hyperlink safe so you can return to this when you need.

Your hyperlink will be active for 2 years. After this time has passed your data will be deleted. You should make sure you download or print any information you may want to keep after this time.

Disclaimer

This checklist as been co-created with residents, patients and carers from the five north central London boroughs of Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington, as well as healthcare professionals. The checklist gives an overall picture of the main steps in the cancer pathway but recognises there will be variation for many people. The signposted third party resources have been carefully selected and verified. We endeavour to ensure they are current and active but cannot guarantee this.