NICE guidelines on Recognition and referral of suspected cancer [NG12]
This NICE guidance (NG12) outlines recommendations for children and adults with suspected cancer, including primary care investigations and referral recommendations to secondary care. It provides guidance on appropriate investigations to be conducted in primary care settings and criteria for selecting individuals who should be referred for specialist evaluation. The aim is to equip patients with an understanding of what to expect if they exhibit symptoms potentially linked to cancer.
In October 2023, updates were made to the recommendations concerning suspected cancer pathway referrals, aligning with NHS England’s initiative for faster cancer diagnosis. According to the revised guidelines, individuals should receive a diagnosis or ruling out of cancer within 28 days of their referral.
In April 2025, an update was made to include amended recommendations on blood tests for myeloma, following a series of NHS England National cancer programme reviews on opportunities for earlier diagnosis. Updates also include revised tables of symptoms and primary care investigation findings to reflect these changes.
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