From persistent cough to sore throat that won’t heal,
unexplained weight loss, difficulty swallowing, inexplicable lump,
unaccountable bleeding, changing bladder habits, persistent pain
A persistent cough, a sore that refuses to heal, unexplained weight loss
and changing bladder habits.They may seem innocuous, irritating facts
of life.
But experts warn people not to dismiss them and six other
key changes in the body, for fear they could be a sign of something far
more sinister.
The 10 red flags for cancer are ingrained in the minds of
doctors and healthcare workers the world over. But on World Cancer Day,
February 4, experts are reminding members of the public to familiarise
themselves with the key symptoms, in a bid to save lives.
Currently 8.2 million people die from the disease across the
world each year – 4.7 million men and 3.5 million women.Of those, four
million deaths are premature, those people aged 30 to 69 years old.In
many cases early diagnosis can mean the difference between life and
death for cancer patients.
A survey by researchers on behalf of Cancer Research United Kingdom
(UK) last year found almost half of those displaying at least one red
flag for cancer did not visit their General Practitioner (GP), thinking
their symptoms ‘trivial’.
Among the signs are unexplained weight loss, which can indicate a
number of forms of the disease, including liver cancer, which claimed
the life of icon and singer David Bowie in January aged just 69.
Days later actor Alan Rickman lost his battle with pancreatic cancer,
also aged just 69. One symptom of that disease – and other forms – is
persistent and unexplained pain, experts say.
If you or a member of your family is suffering at least one of these
10 red flag symptoms, experts advise you book an appointment with a
doctor straight away:
1. A persistent cough- Red flag for… lung cancer
Most lung cancers do not cause any symptoms until they have spread too
far to be cured. But, symptoms do occur in some people in the early
stages of lung cancer.A new cough that does not go away, or changes in a
chronic cough or ‘smoker’s cough’ can be an early indication of the
disease.In addition, chest pain linked to coughing, deep breathing or
lauging as well as hoarseness and coughing up blood are early warning
signs.
2. A change in the appearance of a mole- Red flag for… skin cancer
Melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, can appear anywhere on
the body, but they most commonly appear on the back, legs, arms and face
and even underneath a nail.Though less common, they often spread to
other organs in the body, making them more deadly.The most common sign
is the appearance of a new mole or a change in an existing mole.
Signs to look out for include a mole that is: getting bigger;
changing shape; changing colour; bleeding or becoming crusty; and itchy
or painful.
A helpful way to tell the difference between a normal mole and a melanoma is the ‘ABCDE’ checklist:
Asymmetrical – melanomas have two very different halves and are an irregular shape.
Border – melanomas have a notched or ragged border.
Colours – melanomas will be a mix of two or more colours.
Diameter – melanomas are often larger than 6mm (1/4 inch) in diameter.
Enlargement or elevation – a mole that changes size over time is more likely to be a melanoma.
3. A persistent chance in bowel habits- Red flag for… bowel cancer
The three main symptoms of bowel cancer are blood in the stools or
faeces, a change in bowel habit, such as going more frequently, or
having looser stools, and abdominal pain.
However, these symptoms are very common, and can easily be attributed to other conditions.
As the vast majority of people diagnosed with bowel cancer are over the
age of 60, these symptoms become more important with age.
Most patients with the disease will present to their doctor with one of the following symptoms combinations:
*A persistent change in bowel habit, causing a person to go to the
toilet more often and pass looser stools, together with blood on or in
the stools
*A persistent change in bowel habit without blood in their stools, but with abdominal pain
*Blood in the stools without other haemorrhoid symptoms, such as
soreness, discomfort, pain, itching, or a lump hanging down outside the
rectum
*Abdominal pain, discomfort or bloating always provoked by eating, and
sometimes resulting in a reduction in the amount eaten and weight loss
4. A sore that doesn’t heal- Red flag for… many types of cancer
A sore or ulcer in the mouth that fails to heal is the most common
symptoms of mouth cancer, according to the Cancer Treatment Centers of
America. Furthermore persistent pain in the mouth can also be a sign.
As for the rest of the body, experts at Cancer Research UK say a person
should seek advise from a doctor if a spot, wart or sore doesn’t heal
after several weeks, even if it is painless.
The skin repairs itself very quickly and any damage should typically heal within a week or so.
Abdominal pain can indicate pancreatic cancer, the disease which killed
actor Alan Rickman, pictured as the Sheriff of Nottingham, right, last
month, also aged 69.
5. A persistent difficulty swallowing- Red flag for… oesophageal cancer
A number of medical conditions can make it difficult to swallow.But if
you are having difficulty swallowing and the problem doesn’t go away
after a couple of weeks, it should be checked out.
The key sign of oesophageal cancer is a difficulty swallowing. This
problem may contribute to weight loss, which can also indicate the
disease is present.
6. Unexplained weight loss- Red flag for… a number of cancers
Most people with cancer will lose weight at some point. When you lose
weight for no known reason, it’s called an unexplained weight loss,
according to the American Cancer Society.An unexplained weight loss of
10 pounds or more may be the first sign of cancer. This happens most
often with cancers of the pancreas, stomach, esophagus (swallowing
tube), or lung.
Experts at Cancer Research UK add that small weight changes over time
are quite normal, but if you lose a noticeable amount of weight without
trying to, tell your doctor.
7. A persistent change in bladder habits- Red flag for… bladder or prostate cancer
Problems urinating can include needing to pee urgently, more frequently,
being unable to go when you need to, or experiencing pain. These
symptoms can all be caused by conditions other than cancer, but it’s
important to tell your doctor if you experience any of them. A slow or
weak urinary stream, or the need to urinate more often, especially at
night, can indicate prostate cancer specifically.
Blood in the urine is also a sign.With bladder cancer, the disease
can cause changes in urination, including having to urinate more often,
pain or burning during urination and feeling as if you need to go right
away, even if the bladder is not full.
These symptoms are also more likely to be caused by a benign
condition such as infection, bladder stones, an overactive bladder, or
an enlarged prostate (in men).
But, it is important to have them checked by a doctor so that the cause can be found and treated, if needed.
YOUR CHANCE OF SURVIVAL
BREAST CANCER: 96 per cent of women survive for at least one year, 87
per cent do so for five years, and 78 per cent for a decade.
SKIN CANCER: 88 per cent of men survive for five years or more. For
women the figures are even better, with 92 per cent predicted to survive
for at least five years.
LUNG CANCER: Just eight per cent of men survive for five years or more, compared with 12 per cent of women.
PROSTATE CANCER: Some 85 per cent of patients survive for five years or more.
BOWEL CANCER: 59 per cent of men survive for five years or more. For women, the figure is 58 per cent.
8. An unexplained lump- Red flag for… many types of cancer
A great many cancers can be felt through the skin, though typically they
occur in the breast, testicle, lymph nodes and soft tissues of the
body.A lump or thickening of tissue can be an early sign of the disease,
but it can also indicate some forms of the disease are in an advanced
stage.You should visit a doctor, especially if you have just found a
lump or noticed a lump has grown in size.The American Cancer Society
note that some breast cancers can show up as red or thickened skin
rather than a lump.
9. Persistent, unexplained pain- Red flag for… many types of cancer
Pain can present in the early stages of a number of cancers, but
especially with bone and testicular cancers. A headache that will not go
away or get better with treatment can be a sign of a brain
tumour.Furthermore, back pain can indicate cancer of the colon, rectum,
or ovary.
In most cases, where pain is felt and cancer is diagnosed it is an
indication that the disease has spread from its primary location in the
body.
10. Unexplained bleeding- Red flag for… many types of cancer, namely bowel, cervical or vulval cancer
In both the early and late stages of the disease, unexplained bleeding
can occur. Coughing up blood can be a sign of lung cancer, while blood
in the stool is an indication of colon or rectal cancer.Cancer of the
cervix or the endometrium – the lining of the uterus – can cause
abnormal vaginal bleeding.Blood in the urine can indicate a person is
suffering bladder, kidney or prostate cancer.And a bloody discharge from
the nipple may be a sign of breast cancer.
*Culled from DailyMail.UK online
