C the Signs is an integrated clinical decision-support system that assists healthcare professionals to spot cancer at an earlier stage, when survival rates are highest.

The system uses the latest evidence to help assess a person’s risk of developing cancer, evaluating tens of thousands of peer-reviewed publications, and only using data which has been academically validated.

C the Signs then analyses a patient’s electronic medical record, checking for combinations of signs, symptoms, risk factors, clinical markers and other information, to support GPs to make suspected cancer referrals and even suggest an appropriate diagnostic pathway.

C the Signs and ASCO

An evaluation was showcased at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology Conference in Chicago where C the Signs presented this poster.

The observational cohort study showed a 12.3% increase in cancer detection rates, without any additional time required from healthcare staff. Staff rated the tool as highly effective and easy to use. It helped with clinical decision-making, including prompts and suggestions to consider lesser-known cancers.

A report of the evaluation has also been published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

C the Signs and Health Innovation East

Health Innovation East initially supported the implementation of C the Signs across 35 GP practices in Ipswich and East Suffolk. Across these practices, there were 303 registered users in February 2023.

Health Innovation East subsequently provided funding and project management support for an independent real-world evaluation of the innovation, led by Anglia Ruskin University.

Dr Jag Ahluwalia, chief clinical officer at Health Innovation East said:

“C the Signs is an excellent example of an innovation which is focused on helping to detect cancer at an earlier stage of its course. It uses evidence-based stratification with existing patient information to help GPs identify patients most at risk of cancer. Detecting and treating cancer earlier has a significant impact on improving patients’ outcomes. We look forward to supporting C the Signs with further adoption and spread.”

For more information, visit the C the Signs website and read the evaluation report, ‘Evaluating the impact of an integrated clinical decision support tool intended to support earlier cancer diagnosis in primary care in Ipswich and East Suffolk CCG’.