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Many people are delaying investigating the possibilities cancer A recently released survey shows that symptoms are often caused by difficulties securing GP appointments or by underestimating the severity 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 ukSays 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 because there are lots of different signs and symptoms of cancer and they can manifest differently in different people,” Ms Winter says.
“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 Ms 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 common symptoms of cancer that can affect the entire body are unexplained weight loss or fatigue,” says Ms. Winter.
“For example, if you’re losing weight without trying, you should talk to your doctor about it.”
3. Unexplained Injuries
“Unexplained bruising may be a more common symptom,” says Ms Winter.
“For example, if you’re feeling bruised more easily, but you haven’t hurt yourself.”
4. Change in bowel habits
“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 Ms Winter.
“Also, blood in your stool or urine, or unexplained bleeding from your vagina between periods and after sex is also a sign.”
5. Feeling short 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 Ms Winter.
6. Persistent cough
“If you have persistent cough If it hasn’t gotten better in three weeks, or if the cough has changed, or if it’s getting worse, it’s important to talk to your doctor about this,” says Ms 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.
8. Skin changes
“If you’ve noticed any changes in any area of the skin – for example, you have an area of your skin that may not be healing – get it checked out by a doctor,” advises Ms Winter.
“A comprehensive list of typical symptoms of melanoma skin cancer can be found here cancer research uk‘s 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 keep appointments with their GP, but it is important to keep up,” says Ms 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 as cancers diagnosed at an early stage are more likely to be treated successfully,” says Ms 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.”