Cancer Screening
Responsible, clinically guided tumour marker testing, for those who want greater awareness of their health.
Please Read Before Booking
Cancer marker tests are not diagnostic. A normal result does not rule out cancer, and an elevated result does not confirm it. These markers can be raised for many reasons unrelated to cancer, including infection, inflammation, benign conditions and normal physiological variation. These tests are most useful when interpreted alongside your full clinical picture - including symptoms, personal and family history, and other investigations. They are not a substitute for NHS cancer screening programmes, and they are not appropriate for everyone. If you have symptoms that concern you, please contact your GP or seek appropriate medical advice before booking. Cocoon cancer marker testing is designed for proactive, informed individuals - not for the investigation of active or urgent symptoms.
For some people, understanding their health means wanting to look further - beyond general wellness markers, into areas that feel more significant or personal.
Cancer marker testing offers one layer of that picture. These blood tests measure specific proteins and substances that can, in certain contexts, be associated with particular types of cancer. They are not diagnostic tests, but for individuals with a family history, elevated personal risk, or simply a desire to be more informed, they can provide a meaningful starting point for a conversation with a clinician.
At Cocoon, cancer marker testing is offered within a responsible clinical framework. Every result is reviewed by our GP Dr Claire Seddon and Specialist Consultant Dr Adam Culverwell, who will provide clear, considered interpretation and guide you on appropriate next steps - whether that means reassurance, monitoring, or onward referral.
CA125 - Cancer Antigen 125
Who Is This For
CA 125 is most commonly associated with ovarian health. This test may be particularly relevant for women with a family history of ovarian cancer, those experiencing persistent pelvic symptoms, or those who simply want a broader picture of their gynaecological health markers.
Important To Know
CA 125 is not a screening test for ovarian cancer and is not recommended for routine use in the general population. It can be elevated by many benign conditions. An elevated result requires careful clinical interpretation and should not be a cause for immediate alarm. Your GP will discuss your result in full context and provide recommendations for further steps
PSA - Prostate Specific Antigen
Who Is This For
PSA testing is relevant for men who want proactive insight into their prostate health, particularly those over 50, those with a family history of prostate cancer, or Black men (who carry a higher lifetime risk and for whom earlier testing is increasingly recommended). PSA can also be useful for men who have previously had a PSA result and want to monitor change over time.
Important To Know
PSA is not a definitive test for prostate cancer. Levels can be raised by benign prostate enlargement, prostate infection, recent physical activity or sexual activity. An elevated PSA requires further investigation — it does not confirm cancer. The decision to test should be made with an understanding of both the potential benefits and the limitations. Your GP will discuss this with you as part of your results review.
CEA - Carcinoembryonic Antigen
Who Is This For
CEA is a marker associated with several types of cancer, but is mainly used in assessment and monitoring of bowel and digestive tract cancers. It may be relevant for individuals with a significant family history of these cancers, those who have previously been treated for cancer and want ongoing monitoring, or those seeking a broader tumour marker overview as part of a proactive health assessment.
Important To Know
CEA levels can be elevated in smokers and in a range of benign conditions. It is not recommended as a routine screening tool in people without symptoms or significant risk factors. Your GP will discuss your result within the context of your full health picture.
CA19-9 - Cancer Antigen 19-9
Who Is This For
CA 19-9 is most commonly associated with pancreatic health. It may be relevant for individuals with a family history of pancreatic cancer, or those seeking a comprehensive tumour marker profile as part of a broader preventative health assessment.
Important To Know
CA 19-9 is not a reliable standalone screening tool. It can be elevated in several benign conditions including gallstones, pancreatitis and liver disease. Around 5–10% of the population do not produce this marker at all, meaning a normal result cannot be fully relied upon. This test is most meaningful when used as part of a broader clinical assessment. Your GP will guide you carefully through your result.
Cancer Marker Testing Packages
For those who want a fully structured, clinician-led approach, our packages combine tumour marker testing with broader health assessment - at three levels of depth and clinical detail. Cancer doesn’t always announce itself. That’s why we believe in looking before there’s a reason to worry - with the clinical rigour to make that look meaningful. Each tier offers a different depth of assessment, all interpreted by our clinical team and grounded in the same principle: that early insight is one of the most powerful things you can give yourself.
Focused Cancer Marker Testing - £400
A clinically guided starting point For those who want to look deeper. This package offers a focused, responsible approach to tumour marker testing - giving you a meaningful biochemical overview, interpreted within a careful clinical framework. What’s included:
- Professional venous blood draw
- Laboratory analysis via our accredited partner
- Full GP and Specialist Consultant review of your results
- Written clinical interpretation with clear next steps
- One of the following cancer markers: CA 125 - ovarian marker (females) PSA - prostate marker (males) CEA - bowel and digestive marker CA 19-9 - pancreatic marker
Advanced Screening Package - £1,200
Everything in Tier 1, and more. This package combines tumour marker testing with a broader health assessment - providing the clinical context needed for more targeted investigation, should it ever be required. In addition to Tier 1, this includes:
- Personal risk profile and family history review
- Extensive blood marker analysis
- Access to targeted MRI or Ultrasound imaging* (including prostate, pancreas, brain, and pelvic)
- Personalised imaging recommendations coordinated with our specialist partners
- Fully integrated clinical review
Comprehensive Screening Programme - £2,950
Our most thorough offering. A fully integrated, high-resolution screening experience for those who want the deepest level of insight and reassurance available within a private clinical setting. Everything in Tier 2, plus:
- Whole Body MRI: Non-invasive and radiation-free | Multi-organ structural assessment
- Extended GP consultations — before and after your results
- Pre-test consultation: risk profiling and personalised planning
- Post-results consultation: full interpretation and forward strategy
- Specialist Consultant Radiologist review: A dedicated consultation to walk through your imaging in detail, explain findings clearly, and answer your questions directly
Optional Add-Ons
For those who want to go further, we can arrange additional imaging or health packages to run alongside your cancer marker testing. Our most comprehensive package includes a Whole Body MRI and an extensive panel of blood tests. Alternatively, alongside our imaging partners we can arrange focused scanning to provide structural rather than biochemical evaluation of particular organs - a valuable complement to blood marker results for certain individuals. Examples include pancreatic, prostate, brain or pelvic MRI. Please feel free to discuss these at your consultation, or explore our other packages. * MRI add-ons are arranged separately from your blood test appointment. Your GP will discuss whether imaging is appropriate for you as part of your results review.
A Note on Responsible testing
We want to be clear about what cancer marker testing can and cannot offer. These tests can provide a useful additional layer of insight for people with specific risk factors or a desire to be more proactive about their health. They are not appropriate for everyone, and they are not a substitute for NHS cancer screening programmes, which are designed and validated for population-level early detection.
Please Note:
If you are experiencing symptoms such as persistent bloating, unexplained weight loss, blood in urine or stool, please contact your NHS GP or call 111 rather than booking a private cancer marker test. These symptoms require clinical assessment, not just a blood marker.
Your Screening Journey
Book
You book your preferred test or combination of tests online
Blood Draw
A professional venous blood draw is arranged here at Cocoon, Harrogate
Analysis
Your sample is analysed by our accredited laboratory partner
Review
Your results are reviewed by Dr Claire Seddon, our GP, and Dr Adam Culverwell, our Medical Director
Results
Results are returned to you with a clear written clinical interpretation
Follow Up
A follow-up GP appointment is available if you’d like to discuss your results in more detail - this can be booked at the time of your test or after results are received
Why Choose Cocoon For Cancer Marker testing
Cancer marker testing is only as valuable as the clinical framework around it. A number without context can cause unnecessary anxiety - or false reassurance. At Cocoon, we take both risks seriously. Every result is reviewed by our doctors before it reaches you - not passed on as a raw number with a reference range. Their interpretation takes into account your full clinical picture, your history and your circumstances, so that what you receive is genuinely useful rather than simply data. We are also transparent about the limitations of these tests. We will never position cancer marker testing as something it isn’t. Our goal is to give you informed, considered insight - and to make sure that whatever the result, you know exactly what it means and what, if anything, to do next.
- GP reviewed results as standard — no raw numbers without context
- Responsible clinical framing throughout
- Clear onward pathways if further investigation is needed
- CQC regulated diagnostic service
- Located in Harrogate, with easy access from across Yorkshire