Cancer is a life-threatening disease which involves cells in the body growing and reproducing uncontrollably. As cancerous cells grow they can destroy healthy tissue and organs and spread to other parts of the body. There are more than 200 different types of cancer but the four most common in the UK are breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer and bowel cancer. While every cancer has its own specific set of symptoms there are seven general signs you should be aware of.
The Cleveland Clinic outlines seven warning signs that could be potential cancer symptoms.
These include:
- Change in bowel or bladder habits
- A sore that does not heal
- Unusual bleeding or discharge
- Thickening or lump in the breast or elsewhere
- Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing
- Obvious change in a wart of mole
- Nagging cough or hoarseness
Macmillan Cancer Support says symptoms can be caused by something other than cancer, but that it’s always best to have them checked by your GP as soon as possible.
It advises: “You are not wasting their time by getting your symptoms checked.
“If you’ve already been to your GP with symptoms but they haven’t gone away, it is important to see them again.”
According to Cancer Research UK, one in two people will develop cancer at some point in their lives.
Every year around 360,000 people are diagnosed with the disease, but experts estimate that around four in 10 cancer cases could be prevented.
Cancer could be prevented largely through lifestyle changes, says the charity, such as:
- Not smoking
- Keeping a healthy bodyweight
- Cutting back on alcohol
- Enjoying the sun safely
- Keeping active
- Eating a healthy balanced diet