1 in 2 people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. It is really important to know what signs to look out for, and when to contact your GP surgery.
Most people who get cancer will survive for five years or more. This is even more likely if the cancer is diagnosed at an early stage.
We want to help you identify the warning signs and to know when to seek medical advice. If you know the signs of cancer, you will have a better chance of surviving.
Common Signs and Symptoms of Cancer
- A new lump/bump that wasn’t there before
- Sudden, unexplained weight loss
- Blood in your poo or your urine
- Feeling tired all the time
- Breathlessness
- Bloating/swelling
- Changes to your skin
9 times out of 10 your symptoms will not mean you have cancer. It is better to know as early as possible so you can either rule out cancer or get the treatment you need quickly.
This picture from Macmillan Cancer Support shows what to look out for in different parts of the body (click to enlarge)
%
of people will get cancer in their lifetime
%
of people with cancer will survive 10 years or more
%
of cancers in the UK are preventable
%
of cancers are either breast, prostate, lung or bowel+
+ for all new cancer cases in the UK in 2017-2019
Cancer Screening
Cancer screening looks for signs which could lead to cancer in people who are not showing any symptoms. Screening saves thousands of lives each year by detecting cancer in its early stages.
There is no way to test for every cancer, but in the UK there are four national screening programmes: for breast, bowel, cervical and lung cancers.
Click on the link below for more information.
Keeping Yourself Well
You can lower your risk of getting cancer. For information about living healthily, and links to organisations who can support you, click on the link below.