Abstract

The number of people living with multi-morbidity in the UK is high and projected to rise. This means that the majority of people seeking help for potential cancer ‘alarm’ symptoms do so within an increasingly complex environment, that both the patient and GP must navigate to expedite early cancer diagnosis. Previous research has investigated symptom appraisal and medical help-seeking specifically in the context of cancer, but there is a lack of research exploring how existing morbidity influences how patients present with symptoms. This talk will outline a behavioural science perspective on the issue, and highlight avenues for future research.