If you have symptoms that could be caused by cancer your GP will send you to see a specialist doctor, usually at a nearby hospital. The specialist will find out more about your symptoms and arrange some tests to find out what is wrong with you.

The Department of Health has drawn up national cancer referral guidelines to help GPs decide when to send a patient to a specialist, and how quickly. Guidelines have now been published for many different types of cancer.

The guidelines tell GPs which symptoms to look out for. For some symptoms the patient should see a specialist quickly (within two weeks). This is called an urgent referral.

Sometimes the GP doesn't need to arrange an urgent appointment, even if cancer is likely. For example, some skin cancers grow slowly, so treatment does not have to start immediately. If your GP thinks you have one of these cancers s/he will arrange for you to see a specialist, but you may not need to go straight away. On the other hand, if you have a fast-growing skin cancer, you must be seen quickly.

If your GP sends you to a specialist it doesn’t mean that you definitely have cancer, even if your referral is urgent. It is natural to feel worried, but there may be no need. Remember that your symptoms may be caused not by cancer but by another illness. .

Referral guidelines for suspected cancer - issue date: June 2005 (264.08 Kb)