CATCHING cancer early can improve our chances of recovery and survival.
For Sir Chris Hoy, his cancer showed no symptoms other than an ache in his shoulder.
4
4
4
The 48-year-old announced last month in a Sunday Times interview that his cancer is terminal.
In his first TV interview since then, the six-time gold medallist told BBC Breakfast’s Sally Nugent how a scan revealed a tumour.
Referred by his physiotherapist for a scan, he went to the hospital alone, expecting to be told to lay off upper-body work in the gym for a few weeks.
“I’m really sorry,” the doctor told him. The nurse’s eyes filled with tears. “There’s a tumour in your shoulder.”
A tumour was found in Chris’ shoulder and a second scan found primary cancer in his prostate which has metastasised to his bones.
Scans later revealed it had spread to his shoulder, pelvis, ribs, and spine.
Spotting cancer when it’s still in its early stages can save lives, as treatment is more likely to be successful then, Cancer Research UK (CRUK) says.
From night sweats to losing your voice, nearly anything can be a sign of the disease, making it hard to spot.
While you don’t need to remember all the signs and symptoms that could be indicative of the disease, it’s important to know what’s normal for you and speak to your GP if you notice any unusual changes or something that won’t go away, it added.
But what are the red flag symptoms you should be looking out for?
1. Very heavy night sweats
You’ll be no stranger to night sweats if you’ve gone through the menopause.
And it’s common for infections or certain medications to give you a temperature and sticky sheets.
But CRUK said you should speak to your doctor if you have very heavy, drenching night sweats, or an unexplained fever.
According to experts at Healthline, sweating at night is a less well-known symptom of certain types of cancers, including:
Experts still do not fully understand why some types of cancer cause night sweats, but it could be the result of the body trying to fight cancer.
4
Or the hormonal changes that happen when someone has the disease could be to blame, experts at Healthline explained.
2. Fatigue
If you’re having trouble sleeping or going through something stressful, it’s normal that you’d be feeling more tired than usual.
But if you can’t pin your fatigue to a clear reason and you feel that way all the time, it could be a sign that something is wrong.
Fatigue may be a symptom of blood cancers, such as leukaemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma.
This is because these cancers start in the bone marrow, which produces red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout the body.
3. Unexplained pain or dull aches
It’s normal to experience more pain the older we get.
However, unexplained pain, or a dull ache, can be a sign that something more serious might be going on, according to CRUK.
4. Weight loss for no reason
Again, small changes to weight over time are pretty common and not something to worry about.
But if you haven’t been trying to lose weight and you’re suddenly noticeably thinner, speak to your doctor.
Researchers from Oxford University found that unexplained weight loss was the second highest risk factor for bowel, lung, pancreatic and kidney cancers.
5. Unusual lump or swelling anywhere
Persistent lumps or swelling in any part of your body should be taken seriously, CRUK stressed.
This includes any lumps in the neck, armpit, stomach, groin, chest, breast, or testicle.
6. Unexplained bruising
If you’re clumsy, you’ll likely have a few bruises on your body.
But if these appear when you haven’t bumped into anything, it could indicate something more serious.
Unexplained bruising is a common symptom of leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma.
Cancer screenings in England
CATCHING cancer early gives you the best chance of survival, and a huge part of that is attending regular screenings.
NHS programmes can help diagnose the disease, or risk of it, and improve the likelihood of successful treatment.
There are three national screening programmes in England: cervical screening, breast screening and bowel screening.
“If you are eligible, please make every effort to have your screening test as they can detect a problem early, before you have any symptoms. ,” the NHS says.
“Finding out about a problem early can mean that treatment is more effective.”
Cervical screening
This is offered in England to people with a cervix aged 25 to 64 and is routinely carried out every three years up to the age of 49, and every five from 50 to 64.
Depending on the result, people may be recalled earlier.
During a cervical screening, samples are tested for high risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which causes nearly all cervical cancers.
Those that test positive are then analysed further.
Breast screening
Breast screenings, which involve an X-ray test called a mammogram that can spot cancers when they are too small to see or feel, are usually offered to women aged 50 to 71 in England.
But the NHS is trialling them for women under 50 if they have a high risk of developing breast cancer.
Bowel screening
This test detects whether patients are showing any early signs of cancer.
Men and women aged 60 to 74 are sent an at-home test kit every two years.
This involves providing a small poo sample to be checked for tiny amounts of blood, which could be caused by cancer.
Source: NHS
7. Mouth or tongue ulcer or patch that won’t heal
Ulcers are small sores – it’s common to get them in your mouth when you’re run down. They usually go away in about two weeks.
But if an ulcer or red or white patch on your mouth or tongue is lingering and hasn’t healed for three weeks, it’s something to raise with your doctor or dentist.
Ulcers or patches can be a symptom of mouth and oropharyngeal cancer.
8. Difficulty swallowing
Difficulty swallowing, known as dysphagia, can be a sign of oesophaegal, mouth or throat cancer.
This may present as a pain or burning sensation, or a tightness, CRUK says.
9. Mole changes
People with skin cancer might notice a new mole appear, or a change in the size, shape or colour of an existing one.
These marks can also bleed, itch or become crusty, which can suggest melanoma.
10. Skin changes
When a spot, wart or sore doesn’t heal, even if it’s painless, a doctor needs to check it.
Any unusual change in a patch of skin or a nail, whether it’s a new change or has been there for a while, should be checked out by your doctor.
11. Appetite loss
Losing your appetite is another red flag symptom of cancer, according to Dr Julie Sharp, head of health and patient involvement, said at CRUK.
She said: “It can happen for many different reasons, but speak to your doctor if you’ve noticed you’re not as hungry as usual and it’s not getting any better.”
Stomach, pancreatic, bowel and ovarian cancer can put pressure on your tummy and make you feel too full to eat.
12. Breathlessness
We’ll all feel out of breath if we’ve climbed some steep stairs or had to run for the bus.
But if you notice that you’re feeling breathless more than usual or for a lot of the time, that’s something to watch out for.
It could be a sign of lung cancer.
13. Changes to your poo or pee
It’s always good to have an idea of what’s normal for your bowel-wise. That way, if anything changes, you can ask your doctor about it.
Changes to your habits might include needing constipation, looser poo or pooing more often.
It’s important to speak to your doctor if these last for more than three weeks, as this could be a sign of bowel cancer.
As for your wee, you might need to go more often or urgently, experience pain when peeing, or not be able to go when you need to – these could be signs of bladder cancer, though you’ll likely be able to chalk them down to something simpler like a urinary tract infection.
Blood in your poo or wee are also cancer red flags – it’s important to speak to your doctor about them.
14. Changes to your breasts
Most people will know to spot breast cancer through a lump in their boob.
But other changes you shouldn’t ignore include a difference in the size, shape or feel of your breast or chest, or any skin changes, redness, or pain.
Your nipples could also leak fluid – something to watch out for if you’re not pregnant or breastfeeding.
The look, position or feel of your nipple could also change.
Breast cancer is most common in women, but all people can get it. The first symptom of breast cancer most people notice is a lump in their breast or some thickening.
How to check your breasts
It is important to regularly check your breasts for any changes. Breast tissue reaches all the way up to your collarbone and across to your armpit, so it’s vital to check these areas too.
It is important to regularly check your breasts for any changes. Breast tissue reaches all the way up to your collarbone and across to your armpit, so it’s vital to check these areas too.
If you feel or see any changes in your breast you should always consult your GP.
Charity CoppaFeel! recommends checking your breasts monthly, so you can pick up on any changes quickly.
Breasts do change naturally as part of your monthly menstrual cycle, so you should get to know your breasts, how they feel and what changes they usually go through to know if anything is out of the ordinary.
Five-step check
There is a five-step self exam you can do at home to check for any changes.
Step one: Begin by looking in a mirror, facing it with your arms on your hips and your shoulders straight. You should be looking for any dimpling, puckering, bulging skin, redness, soreness, a rash or changes in the nipple.
Step two: Still looking in the mirror, raise both arms above your head and check for the same changes.
Step three: With your arms still above your head, check for any fluid coming from the nipples. This can include milky, yellow or watery fluid, or blood.
Step four: While lying down use your opposite hand to check each breast. Using a few fingers, keeping them flat and together, go in a small circular motion around your breasts. Make sure you feel the entire breast by going top to bottom in these small circles. It helps to develop a system or pattern to make sure every inch is covered. Use light pressure for the skin and tissue just beneath, medium pressure for the tissue in the middle of your breasts, and firm pressure to feel the tissue at the back, feeling down to your ribcage.
Step five: Feel your breasts while either standing or sitting, using the same small circular motions.
15. A croaky voice
If you have a croaky or hoarse voice for more than three weeks, it could be a sign of laryngeal, throat or lung cancer, CRUK says.
16. Coughing
A certain amount of coughing, particularly during the winter, is to be expected.
It’s also common during hay fever season, and as Covid continues to circulate.
But if your cough is persistent, or you are coughing up blood, it could be a sign of lung cancer.
17. Bloating
It is normal to feel a little bloated every now and then, especially after a big meal or around the time of your period.
However consistent bloating that lasts all day for up to three weeks is one of the most common early signs of ovarian and bowel cancer.
18. Bowel habit changes
The main symptoms of bowel cancer include:
- Changes in your poo (e.g. softer, looser, diarrhoea or constipation that is not usual for you)
- Needing to poo more or less often than normal
- Often feeling like you need to poo, even if you’ve just been to the toilet
If you experience any of these for more than three weeks, it’s important to see a GP.
19. Blood in poo
Blood in your poo, or poo that is black or dark red, is also a sign of bowel cancer and needs to be checked out.
20. Vaginal bleeding
Unexpected vaginal bleeding, including after sex, between periods or after the menopause, is another cancer red flag.
Nine in 10 women with womb, or uterus, cancer have abnormal vaginal bleeding, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).
21. Blood in pee
Blood in your urine, known medically as haematuria, is the most common symptom of bladder cancer.
It is usually painless but always needs investigating.
Get checked today
Dr Julie Sharp, head of health and patient involvement at Cancer Research UK, said:
Spotting cancer at an early stage saves lives, so tell your doctor if you notice anything that isn’t normal for you.
“You don’t need to try and remember all the signs and symptoms of cancer – listen to your body and talk to your doctor if you notice anything that isn’t normal for you.
“Signs and symptoms are more often caused by something less serious than cancer – but if it is cancer, spotting it early can make a real difference.
“It’s important to be aware of what is normal for you and speak to your doctor if you notice any unusual changes or something that won’t go away.
“This can help to diagnose cancer at an early stage, when treatment is more likely to be successful.”
