Cancer is a broad term covering more than 200 different diseases, all involving cells in the body growing and dividing in an abnormal way. How successfully it can be treated often comes down to how early it's caught, which is why recognising warning signs and taking up screening invitations matters so much.
Signs worth getting checked by a GP include a lump you can't explain, weight loss you haven't been trying for, a change in bowel or bladder habits that persists, bleeding that's out of the ordinary, a mole that's changed shape or colour, or a cough or hoarse voice that lasts more than three weeks. None of these automatically means cancer, but they're always worth a conversation with a doctor rather than being left to see if they pass.
When an invitation arrives for NHS screening - for breast, cervical or bowel cancer, say - it's well worth taking up, because screening is built to catch problems before any symptoms have even developed.
Common questions
What warning signs are worth mentioning to a GP?
A lump that can't be explained, weight loss without trying, a lasting change in bowel or bladder habits, unexpected bleeding, a mole altering in shape or colour, or a cough lingering beyond three weeks are all worth having checked.
Is NHS cancer screening worth attending?
Yes - screening is designed to spot problems before any symptoms appear, which is exactly what makes it valuable.