Spotting new or worrying symptoms is very important, particularly if they’re being caused by cancer. Finding cancer early means it’s easier to treat.
But many cancers are described as ‘silent’ as they don’t cause symptoms in the early stages. One of the most common cancers in the UK, breast cancer, is one of these.
Breast cancer
The first symptom of breast cancer most people notice is a lump in their breast. But according to the Mayo Clinic, many women diagnosed with breast cancer never have any signs or symptoms and their cancer is found on a screening test, such as a mammogram.
If symptoms do occur, Cancer Research UK says to look out for:
- a new lump or thickening in your breast or armpit
- a change in size, shape or feel of your breast
- skin changes in the breast such as puckering, dimpling, a rash or redness of the skin
- fluid leaking from the nipple in a woman who isn’t pregnant or breastfeeding
- changes in the position of the nipple
Most breast lumps aren’t cancer, but it’s always important to get a breast lump checked out by your GP.
Ovarian cancer
Symptoms of ovarian cancer are vague and often dismissed by women and GPs, according to Cancer Research UK. For example, one of the symptoms of ovarian cancer is feeling bloated, which many people feel after eating a meal.
But the NHS says if the following symptoms occur frequently, roughly 12 or more times a month, then it could be a sign of ovarian cancer:
- a swollen tummy or feeling bloated
- pain or tenderness in your tummy or the area between the hips (pelvis)
- no appetite or feeling full quickly after eating
- an urgent need to pee or needing to pee more often
Bowel cancer
Bowel cancer is often called a silent killer because the early stages often have no symptoms. People may also dismiss the symptoms for less serious health issues.
Bowel Cancer UK lists the symptoms to see your GP about:
- Bleeding from your bottom and/or blood in your poo
- A persistent and unexplained change in bowel habit
- Unexplained weight loss
- Extreme tiredness for no obvious reason
- A pain or lump in your tummy
Cervical cancer
Cervical cancer is another cancer that often doesn’t cause symptoms until it reaches a later stage.
But the NHS says cervical cancer symptoms can include:
- vaginal bleeding that’s unusual for you – including bleeding during or after sex, between your periods or after the menopause, or having heavier periods than usual
- changes to your vaginal discharge
- pain during sex
- pain in your lower back, between your hip bones (pelvis), or in your lower tummy
Fibroids and endometriosis can also cause these symptoms, but it’s important to get checked out by your GP.
Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer often doesn’t cause symptoms in the early stages. But as the cancer grows it may start to cause symptoms.
“The symptoms may not be specific to pancreatic cancer, and they may come and go to begin with. This can make pancreatic cancer hard to diagnose,” says Pancreatic Cancer UK.
The charity lists common symptoms to spot as:
- Indigestion
- Tummy or back pain
- Changes to your poo
- Weight loss
- Jaundice
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is one of the most common and serious types of cancer, but there are usually no signs or symptoms in the early stages.
- The NHS says many people with the condition eventually develop symptoms including:
- a persistent cough
- coughing up blood
- persistent breathlessness
- unexplained tiredness and weight loss
- an ache or pain when breathing or coughing
If you have these symptoms you should see a GP.
The NHS offers cancer screening programmes which can help diagnose cancer or risk of cancer earlier.
There are three national cancer screening programmes in England:
- Cervical screening
- Breast screening
- Bowel screening.
It health service says: “If you are eligible, please make every effort to have your screening test.”