A significant number of people across the UK are putting off seeking medical advice for potential cancer symptoms, often due to struggles in securing a GP appointment or downplaying their health concerns, a major new survey has revealed.
Barriers to Seeking Help
Research commissioned by Cancer Research UK and conducted by YouGov, which polled 6,844 individuals, uncovered the key reasons for this dangerous delay. The findings are stark: 53 per cent of respondents anticipated trouble booking a GP slot, and this fear was well-founded, as 47 per cent actually encountered problems when trying to get an appointment.
Furthermore, a worrying 44 per cent assumed their symptoms were not serious, while 43 per cent believed they could manage the issues independently without professional medical input.
Listen to Your Body: The Eight Key Symptoms
In response to these findings, Megan Winter, a health information manager at Cancer Research UK, is urging the public to take any unexplained bodily changes seriously. "Our message is that you need to get everything checked out if it’s not normal for you," says Winter. "Listen to your body and if you notice something unusual that doesn’t feel right, talk to your doctor."
Here are the eight critical signs that should always be evaluated by a medical professional.
1) Unusual Lump or Swelling
Any new, unexplained lump or swelling anywhere on the body warrants a GP's attention. This includes areas such as the breast, armpit, or up to the collarbone, which could be related to breast cancer.
2) Unexplained Weight Loss or Tiredness
General systemic symptoms like losing weight without trying or experiencing persistent, unexplained fatigue are important to discuss with a doctor.
3) Unexplained Bruising
Bruising more easily than usual or bruising without any remembered injury is another general symptom that should not be overlooked.
4) Change in Bowel Habits
This includes new, persistent constipation or diarrhoea. Additionally, blood in your stool or urine, or any unexplained vaginal bleeding between periods or after sex, must be flagged immediately.
5) Breathlessness
Feeling short of breath while performing routine day-to-day activities, such as housework, for no apparent reason is a sign that needs investigation.
6) Persistent Cough
A cough that has lasted for more than three weeks, has changed in sound or character, or is getting worse should be checked by a doctor.
7) Unexplained Pain
While aches and pains are more common with age, any new, unexplained, or persistent pain anywhere in the body could signal an underlying issue and should be assessed.
8) Skin Changes
Any change to a patch of skin, especially one that does not heal, should be examined. For specific symptoms of melanoma, Cancer Research UK's website offers a detailed guide.
The Importance of Early Diagnosis
Winter emphasises that your GP should always be the first point of contact for any health worries, despite the challenges in getting an appointment. "It’s important to keep persisting," she advises, pointing to the various contact methods now available, including phone, online, and in-person visits.
"It’s not the public’s job to know what’s wrong with them, that’s what the doctor is there for, so you won’t be wasting their time," Winter adds.
The ultimate reason for this persistence is clear: early diagnosis saves lives. Cancers diagnosed at an early stage, when they are smaller and haven't spread, are more likely to be treated successfully with a wider range of options.
"If you can listen to your body and talk to your doctor about any change, that can make all the difference in terms of outcomes," Winter concludes. "In most cases, it’s not going to be cancer, but if it is, spotting it early makes all the difference."
