Cancer can cause changes to how your body normally looks and works.
Spotting cancer early
Finding cancer early means it's less likely to have grown bigger or spread. It may make it easier to treat.
To help your chances of detecting cancer early:
- know the signs and symptoms of cancer
- be aware of changes to your body that are new, or you cannot explain
- contact your GP so they can check out what's causing these changes
If your GP thinks you may have cancer, they'll refer you to a specialist for tests.
Warning signs of cancer
Cancer signs and symptoms include:
- a new lump or bump
- a lump or bump that changes in size or look
- bleeding that you cannot explain - from anywhere in your body
- bruising you do not know the cause of
- pain that will not go away and has no clear cause
- pooing more often than usual or constipation
- blood in your pee or peeing more often than usual
- changes on your skin - a new or changing mole
- difficulty chewing, swallowing or moving your tongue
- losing weight without trying or that you cannot explain
- feeling tired all the time - more than is normal for you
- a new, persistent cough or a change to to your usual cough
- shortness of breath - more than is normal for you
- night sweats you cannot explain
Having these signs or symptoms does not mean you have cancer. These are common signs and symptoms that are often caused by other conditions.
But a GP needs to check them.
Urgent advice: Contact your GP straight away if you:
- have any signs and symptoms of cancer
- notice anything that is unusual for you
If you notice any unusual signs or symptoms in someone you know, ask them to contact a GP.
If you have symptoms do not wait till your next appointment for:
- bowel screening
- breast screening
- cervical screening
You can get cancer at any time. This includes between cancer screening appointments.
Lumps
Regularly check your body for any new lumps or changes. Especially your breasts, underarms, groin and testicles.
Contact your GP if you notice:
- a lump that is new
- a lump that is changing in size or appearance
- a lump in your breast or under your arm
- a testicle that feels different or has changed size
Coughing, chest pain and shortness of breath
Contact your GP if you have:
- a new cough that lasts for more than 3 weeks
- a cough that has changed or is different to your usual cough
- chest or shoulder pain that does not go away
- shortness of breath more than is normal for you
- blood when you cough
- have chest infections that keep coming back
Changes in your poo
Contact your GP if you:
- have blood in your poo
- have diarrhoea or constipation for no obvious reason
- feel you still need to poo after pooing
- have a pain in your stomach or bottom
- feel your tummy is bloated all the time
- have tummy discomfort
- have no appetite or you are full very quickly after eating
- your poo is loose, pale or looks greasy
Bowel cancer - signs and symptoms
Changes in your pee
Contact your GP if you:
- have blood in your pee
- need to pee more often
- feel that you cannot fully empty your bladder
- strain or feel that it is difficult to pee
- often get up in the middle of the night to pee
- have a weaker flow of pee
Changes in your skin
Contact your GP as soon as possible if you notice changes in a mole, freckle or patch of skin.
Contact your GP if you have a mole that:
- has an uneven or crooked shape
- is changing shape or appearance
- has an uneven border with jagged edges
- is changing colour or has more than 1 colour - it may have brown, black, red, pink or white flecks or patches
- is bigger than 6mm wide, or is getting bigger
- is itchy, crusting, bleeding or sore
A change in a mole can be a sign of a type of skin cancer called melanoma.
A lump, unusual patch or crusted area of skin that has not healed is usually the first sign of non-melanoma skin cancer.
Use the ABCDE checklist to help you check your moles
Bleeding
Contact your GP if you have any unexplained bleeding, such as:
- blood in your pee or poo
- bleeding from your bottom
- blood when you cough
- blood in your vomit
- vaginal bleeding between periods or after sex
- vaginal bleeding when you are postmenopausal (at least 1 year after your last period)
- bruising you do not know the cause of
Unexplained weight loss
Contact your GP if you have lost weight and either:
- do not know the cause of your weight loss
- did not lose the weight through dieting or exercising
Bloating
Contact your GP if you've had bloating that does not go away.
Indigestion and heartburn
Some cancers can give you indigestion or heartburn and acid reflux. This can feel like burning in your chest (heartburn). It may make you burp or hiccup more than usual.
Contact your GP if you get any of these symptoms regularly and you're not sure why you’re getting them.
Tummy or back pain
Contact your GP if you have pain anywhere in your tummy or back and you’re not sure what’s causing it. This includes a dull pain that’s always there or a sharp pain that comes and goes.
Itchy or yellow skin
Contact your GP if your skin is itchy, or your skin and 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 contact your GP if you think something is not right, or you keep feeling tired and unwell and you’re not sure why.
People at higher risk
If you are at higher risk of getting cancer or certain types of cancer you need to:
- know the signs and symptoms
- check for signs of cancer
- go to your GP as soon as you notice signs or have symptoms
- attend screening when it is due
You have a higher risk of getting cancer if:
- you are age 50 and over - but it can happen at any age
- genetic tests show you have inherited specific genes, for example, BRCA or Lynch syndrome
1 or more of your close relatives have had cancer (such as a parent, brother, sister or child)
