There are over 200 different types of cancer and many possible signs and symptoms. It's a good idea to get to know your body and what's normal for you, to help you spot any unusual or persistent changes that could be signs of cancer.
"In general, you should see your GP about any changes in your body that aren't normal for you or don't go away," says Dr Claire Knight, health information manager at Cancer Research UK. "Most symptoms end up being something far less serious, but it's better to get it checked."
Depending on the situation, the GP might reassure you that there's nothing to worry about, ask you to come back if things haven't got better, or they may refer you for tests to find out more.
"Anyone can develop cancer, but it's more common as we get older," says Dr Knight. "About 9 in 10 cases of cancer are in the over 50s."
Here is a list of some of the key signs and symptoms of cancer women tend to ignore. If you develop one of these symptoms, it doesn't usually mean you've got cancer, but it's important to have it investigated.
1: An unusual lump or swelling anywhere on your body
Most women are aware that an unusual breast lump is something they should see a GP about but persistent lumps or swellings in other parts of the body should also be taken seriously. It probably won't be cancer, but it's best to get it checked. "Cancer survival is better when the disease is diagnosed at an early stage," says Dr Knight.
2: Unusual breast changes
When it comes to your breasts, lumps aren't the only changes that should be reported to your GP. Also look for any change in the size, shape or feel of a breast, a change to the skin texture, redness, a nipple change, or pain in the breast.
If you have breast changes, expect your GP to take a careful history, examine the breast and possibly refer you to a specialist breast clinic where you'll have tests that may include a mammogram, ultrasound, MRI and perhaps a biopsy.
3: A change in size, shape or colour of a mole
Most moles are harmless, but new moles, ones that change in size, shape or colour over weeks or months, or ones that are crusty, bleed or ooze, need medical advice. Keep an eye on your skin and look for changes. "Ask your partner or a friend to check areas you can't see, such as your back," says Dr Knight. "This is particularly important if you have fair, freckly or moley skin that tends to burn easily, or if you have a personal or family history of skin cancer."
4: A sore that won't heal after several weeks
Our skin repairs itself quickly and damage usually heals within a week or so. When a spot, wart or sore doesn't heal and lasts for several weeks, it needs to be examined and may need treatment. Even if it's painless, you should seek medical advice.
5: A mouth or tongue ulcer that lasts longer than 3 weeks
Lots of people get mouth ulcers and this is usually nothing to worry about. The lining of the mouth renews itself every 2 weeks, which is why ulcers usually don't last longer than that. However, any single ulcer that lasts longer than 3 weeks without healing should be reported to your GP or dentist.
6: Persistent difficulty swallowing or indigestion
A number of medical conditions can make it difficult to swallow but if you're having difficulty swallowing and the problem hasn't gone away after a couple of weeks, it should be investigated.
"It's normal to occasionally feel slight discomfort or pain after eating a large, fatty or spicy meal," says Dr Knight. "But if you're experiencing indigestion a lot, or if it is particularly painful, then you should see your GP."
7: A cough or croaky voice that lasts longer than 3 weeks
A cough and croaky voice are often symptoms of the common cold. They often go away after a week or so and usually aren't signs of anything serious. However, if they last for longer than 3 weeks, or if an existing cough changes or gets worse, you should raise it with your GP. This is particularly important if you're a current or ex-smoker, as you're more likely to experience throat and lung problems.
"If you cough up blood, no matter how much or what colour, make an appointment to see your doctor right away," says Dr Knight.
8: Breathlessness
It's not unusual to feel out of breath every now and then, but if you notice that you're feeling breathless more than usual then you should seek medical advice. It could be a sign of lung cancer. There's a good chance it's nothing to worry about but knowing what it is and how to treat it can make all the difference. Even if you already have something wrong with your lungs that makes breathing more difficult, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), tell your GP or nurse if you find you're more out of breath than usual.
9: Unexplained weight loss or heavy night sweats
Small changes in your weight over time are normal but if you've noticeably lost weight without dieting, this should be investigated by your GP.
Heavy night sweats can be brought on by infections and some types of medication. They're also more common around the time of the menopause but heavy night sweats can also be caused by certain types of cancer.
10: Persistent bloating
Many women experience a bloating of their abdomen which comes and goes but if you notice persistent bloating, make an appointment to see your GP because it could be a sign of ovarian cancer.
11: Problems passing urine
Infections are the most common cause of pain and difficulty passing urine, but needing to pass urine urgently or more often than usual should be investigated.
12: Blood in your urine, or from the vagina between periods
Blood in your urine should always be reported to a GP. Usually, it isn't caused by cancer and can be treated quickly and easily but it could be a sign of something more serious. Bleeding between periods, or "spotting" as it is sometimes known, is a fairly common side-effect of the contraceptive pill but bleeding from the vagina between periods, after sex, or after the menopause should be investigated.
13: Blood in your bowel motions or a change in bowel habits
The most common cause of blood in the bowel motions (poo) is piles. This condition is brought on by straining when going to the toilet. However, blood in your bowel movements can be a symptom of a more serious condition such as bowel cancer, so it's important to get it checked out.
Stomach bugs and food poisoning are the most usual causes of loose, frequent bowel motions, or diarrhoea. This doesn't usually last long, clearing up within a few days. If you've noticed a change in your bowel habits lasting longer than 3 weeks, it could be a more serious bowel problem.
Most cases of bowel cancer are in older people, with more than 9 out of 10 cases in people over 50. If you're younger, bowel changes are likely to be caused by other medical conditions but if you've noticed any lasting bowel changes, you should seek medical advice.
14: An unexplained pain or ache that lasts longer than 4 weeks
Pain is a way of our bodies telling us that something is wrong. In general, if you experience any continuous unexplained pain, or any unexplained pain that comes and goes over a period longer than 4 weeks, you should seek medical advice.
Source: webmd.boots
Depending on the situation, the GP might reassure you that there's nothing to worry about, ask you to come back if things haven't got better, or they may refer you for tests to find out more.
"Anyone can develop cancer, but it's more common as we get older," says Dr Knight. "About 9 in 10 cases of cancer are in the over 50s."
Here is a list of some of the key signs and symptoms of cancer women tend to ignore. If you develop one of these symptoms, it doesn't usually mean you've got cancer, but it's important to have it investigated.
1: An unusual lump or swelling anywhere on your body
Most women are aware that an unusual breast lump is something they should see a GP about but persistent lumps or swellings in other parts of the body should also be taken seriously. It probably won't be cancer, but it's best to get it checked. "Cancer survival is better when the disease is diagnosed at an early stage," says Dr Knight.
2: Unusual breast changes
When it comes to your breasts, lumps aren't the only changes that should be reported to your GP. Also look for any change in the size, shape or feel of a breast, a change to the skin texture, redness, a nipple change, or pain in the breast.
If you have breast changes, expect your GP to take a careful history, examine the breast and possibly refer you to a specialist breast clinic where you'll have tests that may include a mammogram, ultrasound, MRI and perhaps a biopsy.
3: A change in size, shape or colour of a mole
Most moles are harmless, but new moles, ones that change in size, shape or colour over weeks or months, or ones that are crusty, bleed or ooze, need medical advice. Keep an eye on your skin and look for changes. "Ask your partner or a friend to check areas you can't see, such as your back," says Dr Knight. "This is particularly important if you have fair, freckly or moley skin that tends to burn easily, or if you have a personal or family history of skin cancer."
4: A sore that won't heal after several weeks
Our skin repairs itself quickly and damage usually heals within a week or so. When a spot, wart or sore doesn't heal and lasts for several weeks, it needs to be examined and may need treatment. Even if it's painless, you should seek medical advice.
5: A mouth or tongue ulcer that lasts longer than 3 weeks
Lots of people get mouth ulcers and this is usually nothing to worry about. The lining of the mouth renews itself every 2 weeks, which is why ulcers usually don't last longer than that. However, any single ulcer that lasts longer than 3 weeks without healing should be reported to your GP or dentist.
6: Persistent difficulty swallowing or indigestion
A number of medical conditions can make it difficult to swallow but if you're having difficulty swallowing and the problem hasn't gone away after a couple of weeks, it should be investigated.
"It's normal to occasionally feel slight discomfort or pain after eating a large, fatty or spicy meal," says Dr Knight. "But if you're experiencing indigestion a lot, or if it is particularly painful, then you should see your GP."
7: A cough or croaky voice that lasts longer than 3 weeks
A cough and croaky voice are often symptoms of the common cold. They often go away after a week or so and usually aren't signs of anything serious. However, if they last for longer than 3 weeks, or if an existing cough changes or gets worse, you should raise it with your GP. This is particularly important if you're a current or ex-smoker, as you're more likely to experience throat and lung problems.
"If you cough up blood, no matter how much or what colour, make an appointment to see your doctor right away," says Dr Knight.
8: Breathlessness
It's not unusual to feel out of breath every now and then, but if you notice that you're feeling breathless more than usual then you should seek medical advice. It could be a sign of lung cancer. There's a good chance it's nothing to worry about but knowing what it is and how to treat it can make all the difference. Even if you already have something wrong with your lungs that makes breathing more difficult, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), tell your GP or nurse if you find you're more out of breath than usual.
9: Unexplained weight loss or heavy night sweats
Small changes in your weight over time are normal but if you've noticeably lost weight without dieting, this should be investigated by your GP.
Heavy night sweats can be brought on by infections and some types of medication. They're also more common around the time of the menopause but heavy night sweats can also be caused by certain types of cancer.
10: Persistent bloating
Many women experience a bloating of their abdomen which comes and goes but if you notice persistent bloating, make an appointment to see your GP because it could be a sign of ovarian cancer.
11: Problems passing urine
Infections are the most common cause of pain and difficulty passing urine, but needing to pass urine urgently or more often than usual should be investigated.
12: Blood in your urine, or from the vagina between periods
Blood in your urine should always be reported to a GP. Usually, it isn't caused by cancer and can be treated quickly and easily but it could be a sign of something more serious. Bleeding between periods, or "spotting" as it is sometimes known, is a fairly common side-effect of the contraceptive pill but bleeding from the vagina between periods, after sex, or after the menopause should be investigated.
13: Blood in your bowel motions or a change in bowel habits
The most common cause of blood in the bowel motions (poo) is piles. This condition is brought on by straining when going to the toilet. However, blood in your bowel movements can be a symptom of a more serious condition such as bowel cancer, so it's important to get it checked out.
Stomach bugs and food poisoning are the most usual causes of loose, frequent bowel motions, or diarrhoea. This doesn't usually last long, clearing up within a few days. If you've noticed a change in your bowel habits lasting longer than 3 weeks, it could be a more serious bowel problem.
Most cases of bowel cancer are in older people, with more than 9 out of 10 cases in people over 50. If you're younger, bowel changes are likely to be caused by other medical conditions but if you've noticed any lasting bowel changes, you should seek medical advice.
14: An unexplained pain or ache that lasts longer than 4 weeks
Pain is a way of our bodies telling us that something is wrong. In general, if you experience any continuous unexplained pain, or any unexplained pain that comes and goes over a period longer than 4 weeks, you should seek medical advice.
Source: webmd.boots
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