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Cancer of Unknown Primary

Information and support resources for those affected by Cancer of Unknown Primary.

The CUP (Cancer of Unknown Primary) nurse specialist team provide support to each individual. Telephone 0113 2068881 or email [email protected]

Cancer of unknown primary (CUP) means that your doctor is not sure where the cancer started. They have found a secondary cancer but have not been able to find the primary cancer. People with CUP sometimes have secondary cancer in more than one part of the body.

Signs and symptoms of a cancer where the primary cannot be identified can include:

  • Fatigue
  • Loss of appetite
  • Weight loss
  • and other symptoms

Further information can be found on the Macmillan website.

Diagnostic tests

Sometimes it is not possible to know exactly where a cancer has started from (known as a primary cancer) which means that often more tests are required to gather as much information as possible to help to determine which is the best treatment.

The Macmillan website has helpful information on the tests that are available as part of a diagnosis.

Condition and treatments

Cancer of unknown primary (CUP) means that although cancer has been detected it has not been possible to detect exactly where it has come from (called the primary site) despite many tests.

When this happen the CUP multi-disciplinary team (MDT) will be able to determine the best course of action based on the information provided from the tests and investigations and this may include being referred to another cancer MDT.

Often, following a biopsy, the pathologist (a doctor who examines cells under a microscope) will be able to say what type of abnormal cell it is but not where it has originated from.

Most commonly CUP can be made up of five different types of abnormal cell and can include:

  • adenocarcinoma
  • squamous cell carcinoma
  • neuroendocrine carcinoma
  • poorly differentiated carcinoma
  • undifferentiated cancer

Given this information the CUP MDT will be able to discuss the best course of action and this may include:

Please click on the links to provide more information about each treatment.

After seeing the CUP team follow up is always tailored to each individual patient. The CUP nurse specialist team can be contacted on 0113 2068881 or e-mail [email protected] for any queries.

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