One in two people born after 1960 will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime. The majority of cancers are still diagnosed at stage three or four, when treatment is harder and outcomes are worse.
Cardiovascular disease remains one of the leading causes of illness and premature death worldwide. The challenge is that heart disease often develops silently over many years before symptoms appear. In some cases, the first sign of cardiovascular disease may be a heart attack, stroke or other major event.
The good news is that many cardiovascular risk factors can be identified long before symptoms develop, allowing meaningful steps to be taken to reduce risk and protect long-term health.
At The Wright Practice, we take a proactive and personalised approach to cardiovascular screening. Rather than relying solely on traditional cholesterol testing, we combine modern risk assessment tools, advanced blood biomarkers and, where appropriate, imaging studies to build a more complete picture of cardiovascular health.
Cardiovascular screening may be particularly valuable for individuals who:
Assessment may include:
For selected individuals, additional investigations may include:
One of the most important developments in modern cardiovascular medicine is the ability to identify plaque within the coronary arteries before symptoms occur. In the right individual, advanced imaging can provide valuable information that helps guide decisions regarding lifestyle changes, cholesterol management and preventative treatment.
Our goal is not simply to identify risk factors, but to help patients understand what those risk factors mean and what practical steps can be taken to reduce future cardiovascular risk.
Whether you have a strong family history of heart disease, are concerned about your cholesterol, or simply wish to take a more proactive approach to your health, cardiovascular screening can provide valuable insight into both your current cardiovascular health and your future risk profile.
Cholesterol plays an essential role in the body and is involved in the production of hormones, vitamin D and cell membranes. However, elevated levels of certain cholesterol-containing particles are one of the most important risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease.
Many people are aware of their total cholesterol level, but cholesterol is considerably more complex than a single number. Understanding cardiovascular risk requires consideration of the different types of cholesterol, additional lipid markers and the wider clinical picture.
At The Wright Practice, we assess cholesterol within the context of your overall cardiovascular risk profile. Factors such as age, blood pressure, smoking status, family history, diabetes, body composition and exercise habits all influence how cholesterol results should be interpreted.
A lipid assessment may include:
Many individuals are surprised to learn that significant cardiovascular disease can develop despite relatively reassuring cholesterol results. Equally, some people with elevated cholesterol may have a lower overall risk than expected once other factors are taken into account.
For this reason, we increasingly focus on understanding the number of potentially harmful cholesterol-containing particles circulating within the bloodstream, rather than relying solely on traditional cholesterol measurements.
Assessment may be particularly valuable for individuals who:
Following review of your results, we provide personalised recommendations that may include dietary changes, exercise strategies, weight management, further investigations or medication where appropriate.
Our aim is not simply to reduce cholesterol numbers, but to help patients understand their true cardiovascular risk and develop a practical strategy for protecting long-term heart health.
Traditional cholesterol testing remains an important part of cardiovascular risk assessment, but modern cardiovascular medicine increasingly recognises that additional biomarkers can provide a more accurate understanding of future heart disease risk.
Two of the most valuable markers are Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) and Lipoprotein(a), often abbreviated to Lp(a).
At The Wright Practice, we frequently incorporate these tests into preventative health assessments, particularly for individuals with a family history of cardiovascular disease, unexplained cholesterol abnormalities or concerns regarding long-term cardiovascular risk.
ApoB is a protein found on the surface of potentially harmful cholesterol-containing particles, including LDL cholesterol. Rather than measuring the amount of cholesterol being carried, ApoB provides an estimate of the number of particles capable of contributing to plaque formation within the arteries.
Increasing evidence suggests that ApoB may provide a more accurate assessment of cardiovascular risk than LDL cholesterol alone.
ApoB testing may be particularly useful for individuals who:
Lp(a) is a genetically determined cholesterol particle that can significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Unlike most cholesterol markers, Lp(a) is largely inherited and is only minimally influenced by diet, exercise or lifestyle.
Many individuals with elevated Lp(a) have no symptoms and may have otherwise reassuring cholesterol results. For this reason, a raised Lp(a) often remains undetected unless specifically tested.
Testing may be particularly valuable for individuals who:
Cardiovascular risk is not determined by a single number. Two individuals with identical cholesterol levels may have very different levels of risk depending on their ApoB, Lp(a), blood pressure, family history and imaging findings.
These markers help provide a more complete understanding of cardiovascular health and can support more personalised decisions regarding lifestyle changes, monitoring and preventative treatment.
Our approach is to interpret these results alongside traditional cholesterol testing, blood pressure, metabolic health, family history and, where appropriate, advanced cardiovascular imaging. This allows us to build a more accurate picture of cardiovascular risk and develop a tailored plan for protecting long-term heart health.
CT Coronary Calcium Scoring is one of the most useful tools available for assessing cardiovascular risk in individuals without symptoms. The scan is quick, non-invasive and provides direct information about whether atherosclerotic plaque has already begun to develop within the coronary arteries.
Whilst blood tests and risk calculators estimate the likelihood of future cardiovascular disease, coronary calcium scoring allows us to look for evidence of disease itself.
The scan uses a low-dose CT scanner to detect calcium deposits within the walls of the coronary arteries. These calcium deposits form as part of atherosclerotic plaque and act as a marker of underlying coronary artery disease.
The result is reported as a Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) score.
A score of zero suggests that no calcified plaque is visible within the coronary arteries and is generally associated with a very low short-term risk of heart attack or cardiovascular events.
Higher scores indicate increasing amounts of coronary plaque and a greater burden of coronary artery disease.
In general:
Importantly, the scan does not simply identify risk factors. It identifies whether plaque is already present.
The scan may be particularly useful for individuals who:
Coronary calcium scoring can provide valuable information when deciding whether to pursue more intensive lifestyle intervention, cholesterol-lowering treatment or additional cardiovascular investigations.
For some individuals, a CAC score of zero can provide significant reassurance. For others, the presence of coronary calcium may highlight the need for more proactive cardiovascular risk reduction despite otherwise reassuring blood test results.
Coronary calcium scoring does not identify every form of plaque. Early non-calcified plaque may be present before calcium develops. For this reason, coronary calcium scoring should always be interpreted within the context of age, symptoms, family history, cholesterol levels and other cardiovascular risk factors.
In selected individuals, CT Coronary Angiography may provide a more detailed assessment.
At The Wright Practice, we use coronary calcium scoring as part of a broader personalised cardiovascular assessment. Combined with blood biomarkers, family history and lifestyle factors, it can provide valuable insight into current cardiovascular health and help guide decisions aimed at reducing future cardiovascular risk.
CT Coronary Angiography (CTCA) is one of the most advanced non-invasive tests available for assessing the coronary arteries. Unlike traditional cardiovascular risk assessments, which estimate the likelihood of future disease, CTCA allows us to directly visualise the arteries that supply blood to the heart and identify the presence of coronary artery plaque.
In recent years, CTCA has become an increasingly important tool in preventative cardiology because it can detect coronary artery disease before symptoms develop and often before significant narrowing of the arteries occurs.
The scan uses advanced CT imaging together with intravenous contrast to produce highly detailed images of the coronary arteries. This allows radiologists and cardiologists to assess both the presence and extent of coronary plaque, as well as identify any narrowing that may affect blood flow.
CTCA can identify:
Importantly, CTCA can detect disease that may not be visible on a coronary calcium score alone, particularly softer non-calcified plaque.
CTCA may be considered for individuals who:
A coronary calcium score provides information about calcified plaque only.
CTCA provides substantially more information by allowing visualisation of the coronary arteries themselves, including both calcified and non-calcified plaque. It can therefore identify earlier stages of coronary artery disease and provide a more comprehensive assessment of plaque burden.
Many cardiovascular events occur in individuals who feel completely well. Detecting plaque before symptoms develop creates an opportunity to intervene earlier through lifestyle modification, risk factor optimisation and, where appropriate, medical treatment.
In some individuals, CTCA can provide reassurance that coronary arteries remain healthy. In others, it can identify previously unrecognised disease and help guide a more proactive prevention strategy.
At The Wright Practice, CTCA is considered within the context of the wider clinical picture, including age, family history, cholesterol levels, ApoB, Lipoprotein(a), blood pressure and other cardiovascular risk factors. The aim is not simply to perform a scan, but to use the information gained to make better-informed decisions about long-term cardiovascular health.
For selected individuals, CTCA can be one of the most informative investigations available for understanding current coronary artery health and future cardiovascular risk.
High blood pressure is one of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular disease, yet it often causes no symptoms. Many people feel completely well despite having blood pressure levels that may increase their long-term risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure and kidney disease.
For this reason, blood pressure assessment forms a key part of preventative healthcare and cardiovascular risk evaluation.
At The Wright Practice, we believe cardiovascular risk should never be based on a single measurement alone. Whilst blood pressure is an important factor, it represents just one part of a much larger picture.
Our cardiovascular risk assessments consider a range of factors including:
Many individuals are surprised to learn that cardiovascular risk can vary significantly between people with similar blood pressure readings. Likewise, some individuals with apparently normal blood pressure may still carry a substantial cardiovascular risk because of other factors.
Assessment may be particularly valuable for individuals who:
Where appropriate, we may recommend:
One of the most important aspects of modern cardiovascular medicine is moving beyond population-based risk estimates and towards a more personalised understanding of risk. By combining traditional risk factors with advanced biomarkers and, where appropriate, imaging studies, we can often provide a much clearer picture of an individual’s true cardiovascular health.
Our aim is to help patients understand not only their blood pressure and cardiovascular risk, but also what practical steps can be taken to reduce that risk and protect long-term heart health.
Cancer is one of the most common health concerns for patients seeking preventative healthcare. Whilst it is not possible to prevent every cancer, early detection can significantly improve treatment options and outcomes for many types of cancer.
The challenge is that cancer often develops silently. Many cancers cause no symptoms in their earliest stages, which is why screening and risk assessment play such an important role in modern preventative medicine.
At The Wright Practice, we take a personalised approach to cancer screening. There is no single test capable of detecting every cancer, and not every screening test is appropriate for every individual. Effective screening should take into account factors such as age, sex, family history, lifestyle, medical history and personal risk factors.
Our role is to help patients understand which screening strategies are most appropriate for them and when they are likely to provide meaningful benefit.
Cancer screening may include:
For many individuals, screening is combined with broader preventative health assessments, allowing cancer risk to be considered alongside cardiovascular health, metabolic health and overall wellbeing.
It is important to recognise that screening is not simply about detecting cancer. It is also about identifying pre-cancerous changes and opportunities for prevention before cancer develops.
Our approach focuses on providing clear, balanced and evidence-based advice. We aim to help patients understand both the potential benefits and limitations of screening, enabling them to make informed decisions about their health.
Whether you have a strong family history of cancer, are concerned about a specific risk factor, or simply wish to take a proactive approach to your future health, cancer screening can play an important role in a comprehensive preventative healthcare strategy.
No two individuals have the same risk of developing cancer. Genetics, family history, lifestyle factors, environmental exposures, age and medical history all influence an individual’s risk profile. For this reason, a personalised approach to cancer prevention and screening is often more valuable than a one-size-fits-all strategy.
At The Wright Practice, we help patients better understand their individual cancer risk and identify the screening and prevention strategies most appropriate for their circumstances.
A personalised cancer risk assessment begins with a detailed review of factors including:
Understanding these factors allows us to make more informed recommendations regarding both screening and risk reduction.
Depending on your circumstances, discussions may include:
For some individuals, screening may need to begin earlier than standard national screening programmes. Others may benefit from more intensive surveillance because of a strong family history or inherited risk factors.
Importantly, cancer prevention extends beyond screening alone. Lifestyle measures such as maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, avoiding smoking, moderating alcohol intake and participating in appropriate vaccination programmes can all contribute to reducing cancer risk.
Our aim is to provide clear, evidence-based guidance that helps patients understand their risk, avoid unnecessary testing and focus on the screening strategies most likely to provide meaningful benefit.
Rather than searching for every possible test, we believe the most effective approach is one that is tailored to the individual and based on a careful assessment of risk, evidence and personal preferences.
Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK, but it is also one of the most preventable and treatable when detected early. Screening plays a vital role because bowel cancer often develops gradually over many years, frequently without causing symptoms in its earliest stages.
Many bowel cancers arise from benign growths known as polyps. Identifying and removing these polyps before they become cancerous can significantly reduce future risk.
At The Wright Practice, we help patients understand the screening options available and determine which approach is most appropriate based on age, symptoms, family history and individual risk factors.
Bowel cancer screening may be appropriate for:
The FIT test detects tiny amounts of blood within the stool that may not be visible to the naked eye. It is simple, non-invasive and can be performed at home.
Whilst FIT testing is an excellent screening tool, it cannot identify all bowel polyps and does not replace colonoscopy in higher-risk individuals.
Colonoscopy remains the gold standard investigation for bowel cancer screening. The procedure allows direct visualisation of the entire colon and enables polyps to be identified and removed during the same examination.
For individuals seeking the most comprehensive assessment of bowel health, colonoscopy remains the most accurate screening option currently available.
In selected circumstances, CT colonography may provide an alternative for individuals unable or unwilling to undergo colonoscopy.
The most appropriate age to commence screening depends on individual circumstances. Factors such as family history, symptoms and previous findings may influence recommendations.
For many individuals without significant risk factors, screening discussions become particularly relevant from the age of 45–50 onwards.
Screening is intended for people without symptoms. Anyone experiencing symptoms such as:
should seek medical assessment rather than relying on screening tests alone.
Our aim is to help patients understand the benefits and limitations of each screening option and ensure that decisions are guided by individual risk factors, current evidence and personal preferences. Early detection remains one of the most effective ways of reducing the impact of bowel cancer.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting women in the UK. The good news is that when detected early, treatment is often simpler and outcomes are generally more favourable. For this reason, screening plays a vital role in modern preventative healthcare.
Most breast cancers occur in women with no significant family history, which means screening remains important even for individuals who do not consider themselves high risk.
At The Wright Practice, we help women understand their individual breast cancer risk and navigate the screening options available. Recommendations are based on factors such as age, family history, personal medical history, genetic risk factors and individual preferences.
Breast cancer screening may be particularly important for women who:
Mammography remains the cornerstone of breast cancer screening and is currently the most widely used screening test worldwide.
The purpose of mammography is to detect breast cancers before they become large enough to cause symptoms or be felt as a lump. Early detection can often lead to less invasive treatment and improved outcomes.
For many women, mammography remains the most important breast cancer screening investigation available.
Breast MRI may be appropriate in selected individuals, particularly those with a significantly increased lifetime risk of breast cancer or dense breast tissue. MRI can provide additional information beyond mammography but is not routinely required for all women.
Ultrasound is sometimes used alongside mammography, particularly when assessing specific breast symptoms or abnormalities. However, it is generally considered a complementary investigation rather than a primary screening test.
A strong family history of breast or ovarian cancer may significantly influence screening recommendations. In some cases, genetic testing may be appropriate to better understand inherited cancer risk and guide future screening strategies.
Screening is designed for individuals without symptoms. It remains important for women to be familiar with their breasts and seek medical advice if they notice:
Our approach is to provide clear, evidence-based guidance tailored to the individual. The goal is not simply to recommend screening, but to help each woman understand her personal risk profile and make informed decisions about her future health.
For many women, breast cancer screening forms an important part of a wider preventative health strategy that also includes cardiovascular health, hormonal health, metabolic health and healthy ageing.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer affecting men in the UK. In many cases it develops slowly and may cause no symptoms during its earliest stages. As a result, many men are understandably interested in understanding their risk and exploring whether screening may be appropriate.
The challenge is that prostate cancer screening is more complex than many other forms of cancer screening. Unlike bowel cancer screening or breast screening, there is currently no single test that can reliably distinguish between harmless prostate cancers and those that may become clinically significant.
At The Wright Practice, we take an individualised approach to prostate cancer screening, helping men understand both the potential benefits and limitations of available investigations.
Prostate cancer screening discussions may be particularly relevant for:
The Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test is the most commonly used investigation when assessing prostate cancer risk.
PSA is a protein produced by the prostate gland. Elevated levels may be associated with prostate cancer but can also occur as a result of benign prostate enlargement, inflammation, infection, recent ejaculation, cycling and other non-cancerous causes.
For this reason, PSA should never be interpreted in isolation.
A PSA result is most valuable when considered alongside:
A single PSA result provides only a snapshot in time. In many cases, monitoring PSA over several years can provide more useful information than an isolated measurement.
Understanding how PSA changes over time often helps guide decisions regarding further investigation and ongoing monitoring.
Modern prostate MRI has transformed prostate cancer assessment.
When PSA results are concerning or additional information is required, MRI can provide detailed imaging of the prostate gland and help identify areas that may warrant further investigation.
In many cases, MRI can improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce unnecessary invasive procedures.
It is important to recognise that screening may identify cancers that would never have caused harm during a man’s lifetime. Equally, no screening strategy can identify every prostate cancer.
For this reason, screening decisions should be personalised and based on an informed discussion of risks, benefits and individual circumstances.
We believe prostate cancer screening should be viewed as part of a broader men’s health and preventative healthcare strategy rather than as a single blood test.
Our assessments take into account family history, cardiovascular health, hormonal health, lifestyle factors and overall wellbeing, allowing screening decisions to be tailored to the individual.
For many men, regular PSA monitoring combined with appropriate clinical assessment provides reassurance and an opportunity to identify potential problems at an earlier stage. Our goal is to help men make informed decisions about screening whilst avoiding unnecessary anxiety and over-investigation.
Lung cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. One of the challenges is that symptoms often do not develop until the disease is relatively advanced. As a result, there has been increasing interest in screening strategies aimed at detecting lung cancer at an earlier and more treatable stage.
Screening is not appropriate for everyone. The greatest benefit is generally seen in individuals at increased risk, particularly those with a history of smoking.
At The Wright Practice, we help patients understand their individual risk profile and whether lung cancer screening may be appropriate as part of a broader preventative health assessment.
Lung cancer screening may be considered for individuals who:
Low-dose CT scanning is currently the most effective screening tool available for the early detection of lung cancer in higher-risk individuals.
The scan is quick, non-invasive and uses a lower radiation dose than a standard CT scan. It is capable of detecting small lung abnormalities that may not cause symptoms and would not be visible on a routine chest X-ray.
Importantly, screening is intended for individuals without symptoms. If symptoms are present, a diagnostic assessment rather than a screening programme is usually required.
Whilst genetics and environmental exposures can contribute to lung cancer risk, smoking remains by far the most important modifiable risk factor.
For current smokers, stopping smoking remains one of the most effective interventions available for reducing future cancer risk and improving long-term health.
Anyone experiencing symptoms such as:
should seek medical assessment rather than relying on screening tests.
Not everyone requires lung cancer screening. Our role is to help patients understand their personal level of risk and determine whether screening is likely to provide meaningful benefit.
For selected individuals, low-dose CT screening can form an important part of a wider preventative health strategy alongside cardiovascular screening, cancer risk assessment and lifestyle interventions aimed at reducing future disease risk.
Our goal is to provide balanced, evidence-based guidance that helps patients make informed decisions about screening whilst avoiding unnecessary investigations where the potential benefits are limited.
Skin cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer, and rates continue to rise in the UK and around the world. Fortunately, when detected early, most skin cancers can be treated very successfully.
Many people seek assessment because they have noticed a new mole, a change in an existing mole, a persistent skin lesion or an area of skin that simply does not look quite right. In most cases these changes prove to be benign, but it is important to identify the small number that may require further investigation or treatment.
At The Wright Practice, we provide assessment of moles, skin lesions and other skin concerns as part of a broader preventative healthcare approach.
Skin cancer assessment may be particularly valuable for individuals who:
Features that may warrant medical assessment include:
Most skin changes are not cancerous, but persistent or evolving lesions should always be assessed.
The most common forms of skin cancer include:
Melanoma is less common than BCC or SCC but is generally considered the most serious form because of its potential to spread to other parts of the body if not detected early.
Skin cancers are often visible long before they cause symptoms. This creates an opportunity for early diagnosis and treatment, which is one of the reasons skin cancer assessment forms an important part of preventative healthcare.
We recommend seeking medical review if you notice a changing mole, a persistent skin lesion, a non-healing area of skin or any skin change that causes concern.
Assessment begins with a detailed history and examination of the lesion. Where appropriate, we can arrange referral to trusted dermatology, skin cancer or plastic surgery specialists for further investigation and treatment.
Our aim is to provide reassurance when lesions are benign whilst ensuring that potentially significant skin cancers are identified and managed as early as possible.
One of the greatest challenges in cancer medicine is that many cancers cause no symptoms during their earliest stages. Traditional screening programmes focus on specific cancers such as breast cancer, bowel cancer and cervical cancer, but there is currently no national screening programme for many other cancer types.
Multi-cancer early detection tests are a relatively new area of preventative healthcare that aim to identify signals associated with a range of different cancers from a simple blood sample.
Trucheck™ is a blood test designed to detect circulating tumour cells (CTCs), which may be released into the bloodstream by certain cancers. The test aims to identify potential evidence of malignancy before symptoms develop and before a cancer would necessarily be detected through conventional screening.
Potential advantages include:
Trucheck may be of interest to individuals who:
Importantly, Trucheck should not be viewed as a replacement for established cancer screening programmes. Mammography, colonoscopy, cervical screening and other evidence-based screening tests remain extremely important and should continue where appropriate.
As with any screening test, Trucheck has limitations. No blood test can identify every cancer, and a normal result cannot completely exclude the future development of cancer.
Similarly, abnormal results may require further investigation and do not necessarily confirm the presence of cancer.
For this reason, Trucheck is best viewed as an additional tool that may complement, rather than replace, established screening strategies.
Before recommending any cancer screening test, we consider individual risk factors, family history, age and existing screening requirements.
Our aim is to help patients understand both the potential benefits and limitations of multi-cancer early detection testing and decide whether it has a role within their broader preventative healthcare strategy.
For selected individuals, Trucheck may provide an additional layer of information as part of a personalised approach to cancer screening and early detection.
Wow! Dr. Dan was extremely knowledgeable and attentive to my health and well being. I’m so glad to have found him!
I have been going to Dr Wright for a number of years now. He is highly knowledgeable, compassionate, open minded and efficient, I couldn’t recommend him highly enough
I have been a patient of Doctor Dan for some time and continue to consult with him despite having left the UK. Dan has the enthusiasm and energy of a young man, whilst taking the holistic “physician” approach of an old school family doctor, equipped with the most modern insights and technology.
Dr Jain was great. Expert knowledge with practical advice
Dr Dan recommends starting structured cancer screening from around age 40 for most patients, or earlier for those with a significant family history. The appropriate investigations depend on your sex, history and risk profile.
TruCheck is a validated test with published clinical data showing sensitivity of 82.5 to 88.2% and specificity of 99%. It’s a useful additional layer of detection, particularly for cancers where no standard screening programme exists.
Yes. A CT coronary angiogram can identify arterial narrowing and plaque before symptoms develop, allowing for preventive intervention such as medication or lifestyle changes.
No. A consultation with Dr Dan is sufficient; he will assess your situation and recommend the most appropriate investigations directly.
Dr Dan will discuss the findings with you clearly and arrange appropriate follow-up. You will not be left without a clear next step.
Some policies cover diagnostic investigations; please check with your insurer. Most UK health insurance policies don’t cover GP consultation fees but may cover scans and specialist investigations where clinically indicated.
This depends on your results and risk profile. Dr Dan will advise on a recommended screening interval based on what’s found and your overall clinical picture.
Wellperson is a structured annual health review covering a broad set of blood tests and examination; the investigations on this page are more specific, targeted scans and tests for cancer and cardiovascular risk, several of which can also be added to an Executive Wellperson package.
Approximately 60 to 90 minutes, and it is non-invasive with no radiation involved.
Book online | Call: +44 (0)207 139 1833 | Email: info@thewrightpractice.com
101 Harley Street, London, W1G 6AH
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