Help us find the BSL signs for cancer

Would you know how to sign biopsy, chemotherapy or radiotherapy? Many of the words used at cancer appointments have no agreed sign in British Sign Language (BSL). Cambridgeshire Deaf Association is launching a new project to find the signs deaf people already use, and to show where the gaps are.

Ky explains the project in BSL, with captions.

One big problem

When a deaf person sees a doctor about cancer, they can meet a lot of unfamiliar words in a short space of time. Many of those words have no sign at all, or a sign that only a few people know.

So deaf people are not always sure what is being said, and interpreters are often not sure how to sign it either. There is one BSL sign for cancer, but there are more than 200 kinds of cancer, which makes it hard to explain a diagnosis or a treatment clearly.

Who we are working with

We are working with the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre on this project, funded by the University of Cambridge.

Together we will find out which signs deaf people already use and understand, how interpreters sign the same words, and where there are gaps. We will then share what we find as a video list of signs that patients, families and interpreters can use.

Two ways to get involved

You can come along to one of our workshops in Peterborough or Cambridge, or join in online through Deaf Vlog UK.

Workshop dates

Peterborough: Allia Future Business Centre, London Road, Peterborough PE2 8AN

Tuesday 27 October 2026, 12pm to 2pm
Monday 23 November 2026, 12pm to 2pm

Cambridge: C3 Centre, 2 Brook Road, Cambridge CB1 3HR

Thursday 29 October 2026, from 10am
Tuesday 24 November 2026, from 10am

You do not need to know any medical words. Just bring the signs you use and your own experience, whether you have had cancer yourself, supported someone who has, or work as an interpreter.

Join in online with Deaf Vlog UK

We are also working with Deaf Vlog UK, a Facebook group of deaf BSL users, so deaf people anywhere in the UK can take part. Join the group, then watch the explanations of the words and share the signs you use there. Keep an eye on Deaf Vlog UK for the first posts.

Andrew Palmer, Chief Executive of Cambridgeshire Deaf Association, said:

“We’re delighted to continue our working relationship with the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre, who have worked with us over the last few years to increase knowledge of, and accessibility around, cancer treatment and research across Cambridgeshire.

This project really matters. It isn’t a national convention on cancer signs, but it will help local people learn the signs for a range of cancer-related terms and treatments, and it will give local interpreters a working knowledge of that vocabulary.

We’re really pleased to be working with Deaf Vlog UK on this, and to be drawing on the minds of their eight thousand users.

Cancer research is often where science and people meet, and where new terms enter public discourse. Sign language can lag behind that, and this project is important because it makes sure deaf people aren’t left behind as new terminology comes into everyday vocabulary.”