Cancer Research UK logo.
SearchDonate
  • Search
Two researchers in a lab standing at a computer screen working. They look happy.

Breakthroughs: Detect

Early detection saves lives. 

A world where more cancers are diagnosed early 

We’re identifying the earliest signs of cancer and developing better tests to spot them. We want to detect more cancers early when treatment is more likely to work. 

Meet Tony

Portrait of Tony, crouching in his greenhouse and attending to his garden.

The success of my treatment is down to the fact that I was diagnosed early. The capsule sponge has the potential to lead to more people being diagnosed at an early stage.

- Tony

Our biggest breakthroughs in detection

A microscopic illustration of the cells in our blood.

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.

Image of the breath test. It looks like a plastic bag attached to a scanner.

A breath test to detect stomach cancer

Our researchers are developing a breath test that could detect stomach cancer earlier and help people get treatment faster.

Close-up image of the capsule sponge. It's a pill that's swallowed and expands into a sponge in the stomach.

Meet the capsule sponge

Sometimes, the simplest things make the biggest difference. This sponge on a string could help stop oesophageal cancer – one of the hardest to treat cancers - in its tracks

Image of a child's MRI brain scan.

From brain scans to better treatments

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

Image of researcher's hand holding a blood smaple tube.

How a blood test is helping us find cancers of unknown primary

When you're trying to stop a cancer, it can help to know where it started. Professor Caroline Dive's CUPiD trial is tracking cancers down using the clues they spill into the blood.

A bright and colourful image of lollipops on a table.

More than a sweet treat

Today, diagnosing mouth cancer usually involves scalpels, stitches and anaesthetic. Our researchers have a plan to replace it with lollipops.

How we’re detecting cancer earlier  

Our work helped roll out cancer screening in the UK, spotting the disease before symptoms start so we can treat people earlier.

Three

We helped to implement and shape the UK’s three national screening programmes for breast, cervical and bowel cancer.

90,000

Almost 90,000 cancer cases were detected through screening between 2019-2023.

Thousands

Between them, these three programmes help save thousands of lives each year.

Help us make more breakthroughs

Find out how you can support our life-saving work.

Donate

Get involved

A Cancer Research UK researcher at her computer, looking at a clipboard.

Breakthroughs in other areas of cancer research

Every day, breakthroughs are saving lives. That’s the power of our science.

References

  1. Arrow return up icon

    Data analysis collected using Rapid Cancer Registration Dataset (RCRD) data for England, 2019-2023.