According to the NHS it is important to contact a GP about any cancer like symptoms as it is much easier to treat cancer if it has been found early.
If your GP thinks you have symptoms that could be cancer, Your GP will refer you to a specialist, if they think it could be cancer. This will usually be an urgent referral.
Coughing, chest pain and breathlessness
The NHS say that if you’ve had a cough for 3 weeks or more, you should speak to a GP.
You may have another condition such as pneumonia, if you have symptoms such as shortness of breath or chest pain, speak to a GP straight away if you have these types of symptoms.
Changes in Bowel Habits
If you’ve noticed changes in your usual bowel habits and it’s lasted for 3 weeks or more speak to a GP.
The NHS recommend looking out for changes which could be a sign of Cancer.
The type of changes to look out for include:
- “Tummy discomfort,
- blood in your poo,
- diarrhoea or constipation for no obvious reason
- a feeling of not having fully emptied your bowels after going to the toilet
- pain in your stomach or bottom (anus)
- your poo is loose, pale or looks greasy
- Bloating- speak to a GP if you’ve had bloating for 3 weeks or more.”
Unexpected Bleeding a Sign of Cancer
The NHS also recommend that you should also speak to a GP if you have any unexplained bleeding, such as:
- “Blood in your urine
- vaginal bleeding between periods
- vaginal bleeding a year or more after the menopause (postmenopausal bleeding)
- bleeding from your bottom
- blood when you cough
- blood in your vomit”
Lumps
If you notice a lump in your breast or if you have a lump that’s noticeably increasing in size elsewhere on your body speak to your GP.
The NHS also say that “it’s important to regularly check your breasts, underarms, groin and testicles for any new lumps or changes.”
Moles
The NHS say that you should speak to a GP if you have a mole that:
- “Changes shape or looks uneven
- changes colour, gets darker or has more than 2 colours
- starts itching, crusting, flaking or bleeding
- gets larger or more raised from the skin
Any of these changes mean there’s a chance you have melanoma, a serious type of skin cancer”.
Unexplained Weight Loss
if you’ve lost a lot of weight over the last couple of months that cannot be explained by changes to your diet, exercise or stress, you should also speak to a GP.
Read about unintentional weight loss here.
Tummy or Back Pain
If you have pain anywhere in your tummy or back and you’re not sure what’s causing it, you should speak to a GP. This includes a dull pain that’s always there or a sharp pain that comes and goes.
Indigestion and Heartburn
Some cancers can give you indigestion or heartburn and acid reflux. If you can feel like burning in your chest (heartburn) and make you burp or hiccup more than usual, this might be a sign of cancer, as some cancers can give you indigestion or heartburn and acid reflux.
The NHS recommend that you speak to a GP if you get any of these symptoms regularly and are not sure why you’re getting them.
Itchy or Yellow Skin
Speak to a GP if your skin is itchy, and your skin or the whites of your eyes turn yellow (jaundice). Your pee may also look darker than usual.
Feeling Tired and Unwell
With some cancers the symptoms can be harder to notice. It’s important to speak to a GP if you think something is not right, or you keep feeling tired and unwell and you’re not sure why.
