Google Analytics
Google Analytics is used only after you choose “Accept analytics”. It helps show which pages are visited and how people move through the website. This information is used to improve the clarity and usefulness of the site.
The site does not send names, email addresses, telephone numbers, form entries or on-site search terms to Google Analytics. Advertising signals and ad personalisation are disabled. No analytics code loads before consent.
With consent, limited interaction counts record opening article cards, topic pathways and related content, using article search or filters, showing more results, and requesting a video to load. These counts do not contain the text you type or the destination you click. A video-load request does not prove that you watched the video.
Page addresses are sent without query strings or fragments, and referring addresses are limited to the referring website's origin. Google also receives technical information when your browser connects to its service. Analytics data is not anonymous at collection: cookies distinguish browsers, even though we use aggregate reports rather than individual visitor profiles. Reading a cancer article does not establish a diagnosis, and we do not use analytics to infer one.
Google Analytics may set cookies beginning with _ga after consent. Google explains how it uses information from sites that use its services in its privacy information for partner sites (opens in a new tab).
Your choice
You can accept or refuse analytics without affecting access to any part of the website. Your choice is stored in your browser for up to six months. The site requests analytics-cookie expiry after 60 days without renewing it on each visit. Reviewing your choice stops further analytics collection until you accept again. If you refuse analytics, any Google Analytics cookies for this site are removed where the browser permits it. Withdrawal does not remove information already collected.
Dr AlHilali is responsible for this website's analytics use. The legal basis for optional analytics is consent. Google processes information through its Analytics service, which may involve processing outside the UK; see Google's linked privacy information. You may request information about your data-protection rights through the contact channels below and may complain to the Information Commissioner's Office.
User-level and event-level retention in Analytics is set to two months, without resetting the user-level period on new activity. These limits do not apply to Google's aggregate standard reports.
Hosting and security
Cloudflare hosts and protects this website. It receives technical request information, including IP addresses, for delivery and security. Hosting request statistics include automated requests and are not a count of people reading articles. We do not install session recording, heatmaps or visitor-fingerprinting tools.
Videos and external links
Embedded YouTube videos do not load until you choose to play them. Playing a video connects your browser to YouTube. Links to social networks and other websites are governed by those services’ own privacy policies.
Medical information
This website does not ask you to submit medical records or personal medical questions. Please contact your own clinical team about your diagnosis, symptoms or treatment.
Contact
For a privacy question about this website, use the official channels listed on the contact page.
Last updated: 8 October 2026.