heart Burn Health Checks
Early detection of oesophageal and stomach conditions
Cancers of the oesophagus (food pipe) and stomach are often diagnosed late, when treatment is more difficult and outcomes are poorer. This is mainly because early stages of these conditions do not usually cause noticeable symptoms.
Finding these conditions earlier can make a big difference. It allows treatment to start sooner, improves the chances of success, and can reduce the impact on patients and healthcare services.
Upper gastrointestinal cancers often present with vague, non-specific symptoms and, in the absence of routine screening, are frequently diagnosed at an advanced stage. In England, around four in five oesophageal and stomach cancers are diagnosed late, significantly limiting treatment options and survival.
This new pathway takes a proactive, system-wide approach to addressing that challenge, using the C the Signs platform. The programme analyses routinely collected data within GP electronic health records, alongside patient-reported information, to identify individuals who may be at increased risk of cancer.
Identifying people at higher risk
Using routinely collected electronic health record data alongside patient-reported information, the platform identifies patients who may be at increased risk of upper gastrointestinal cancer. Patients with a specific risk profile are proactively invited via SMS to complete a short digital assessment, enabling earlier identification of higher risk patients and triaging them directly to the most appropriate diagnostic pathway.
Depending on clinical presentation, this may include capsule sponge testing, endoscopy or CT scanning, enabling earlier investigation while supporting more efficient use of diagnostic capacity.
A simpler, less invasive test
Traditionally, investigation involves an endoscopy (a camera test of the stomach and oesophagus). While effective, this test can be uncomfortable and is not always easy to access.
A newer test called the capsule sponge offers a simpler alternative. It is quick, minimally invasive, and well tolerated. This test can help identify people who may need further investigation, making it easier to detect problems earlier.
Improving outcomes
By identifying people at risk and diagnosing conditions earlier, we aim to:
- Detect more cancers at an early stage
- Improve treatment outcomes
- Reduce the number of advanced cancer diagnoses
This supports the NHS goal of diagnosing 75% of cancers at an early stage (stage 1 or 2) by 2028.
