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A new survey shows that many individuals are delaying getting checked for possible cancer symptoms, often due to difficulties securing GP appointments or underestimating the seriousness of their health concerns.
research by cancer research ukPolling from 6,844 individuals across UK through YouGovfound that 53 per cent anticipated having trouble booking a GP slot, 47 per cent actually experienced problems, 44 per cent believed symptoms were not severe, and 43 per cent believed they could manage them independently.
In light of these findings, Megan Winter, health information manager cancer research ukEmphasizes that any unexplained changes should be reported to your GP.
“Our message is that if it’s not normal for you, you should get everything checked out because cancer has a lot of different signs and symptoms and they can manifest differently in different people,” says Winter. “Listen to your body and if you notice anything unusual that doesn’t feel right, talk to your doctor.”
Here are eight signs that should always be evaluated by a professional.
1) Abnormal lump or swelling
“If you’ve noticed any unusual lump or swelling anywhere on the body, you should get checked by a GP,” advises Winter.
“For example, lumps or swelling anywhere around the breast, below the elbow and up to the collarbone are something that should be investigated in relation to possible breast cancer.”
2) Unexplained weight loss or fatigue
“Some of the more common symptoms of cancer that can affect the entire body are unexplained weight loss or fatigue,” says Winter. “For example, if you’re losing weight without trying, you should talk to your doctor about it.”
3) Unexplained injuries
“Unexplained bruising can be a more common symptom,” says Winter. “For example, if you’re bruising more easily, but you haven’t hurt yourself.”
“If you’ve noticed a change in your bowel habits, such as you’re more constipated or you’re having more bowel movements than usual, you should talk to your GP about this,” says Winter. “Also, blood in your stool or urine, or unexplained bleeding from your vagina between periods and after sex is also a sign.”
5) Shortness of breath
“If you’re feeling short of breath while going about your normal everyday activities, such as doing housework, for no apparent reason, it’s worth notifying your GP,” says Winter.
6) Persistent cough
“If you have a persistent cough that hasn’t gone away in three weeks, or if the cough has changed, or if it’s getting worse, it’s important to talk to your doctor about it,” says Winter.
7) vague pain
It’s common to experience aches and pains as we age, but any vague or persistent pain anywhere in the body could be a sign of something more serious, explains Health Information Manager.
“If you’ve noticed any changes in any area of the skin—for example, you have an area of your skin that maybe isn’t healing—get it checked out by a doctor,” Winter advises. “A detailed list of typical symptoms of melanoma skin cancer can be found on the Cancer Research UK website.”
Who should you go to first?
Your GP should always be your first source of call regarding any health concerns.
“We often hear from people that it is difficult to get an appointment with their GP, but it is important to be persistent,” says Winter. “There are many different ways you can now contact your GP, including over the phone, online, or attending your GP surgery.
“It’s not the public’s job to know what their problem is, that’s what doctors are for, so you don’t waste their time by bringing up these concerns.”
Why is it important to detect these symptoms early?
“It is important to recognize any symptoms early because cancers diagnosed at an early stage are more likely to be treated successfully,” says Winter. “When cancer is small and has not spread, there are more treatment options and it is more likely to be treated successfully.
“If you can listen to your body and talk to your doctor about any changes, it can make a big difference in terms of outcomes. In most cases, it won’t be cancer, but if it is, identifying it early makes a big difference.”