Unintended consequences of an ‘all-clear’ diagnosis for potential cancer symptoms: a nested qualitative interview study with primary care patients

Nine out of 10 patients undergoing urgent cancer investigations receive an 'all-clear' diagnosis.A qualitative approach was used to evaluate the impact of investigations that did not result in cancer diagnosis on subsequent symptom attribution and help seeking for recurrent or new possible cancer symptoms.A survey of symptoms, help seeking, and past investigations was sent to 4913 individuals aged ≥50 years from four UK general practices. Of...