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Listed here are some of the possible symptoms of cancer. If you worry about having any of them, tell your GP.
If you have any of these symptoms, it doesn’t mean that you definitely have cancer. Most people who find lumps in their breasts, for instance, don’t have breast cancer.
But it is better to be safe than sorry. If you do have cancer, the sooner it is treated, the better. If you don’t have cancer, your doctor can put your mind at rest.
Tell your GP if...
- your bowel or bladder habits change for no reason, and don’t go back to normal (for example, you get looser bowel motions, or you can’t pass water as easily)
- you have a cough or hoarseness that doesn’t go away
- you have any unusual bleeding or discharge from anywhere in the body (for example bleeding from your vagina between periods or after the menopause, or coughing up blood, or you have blood in your urine or bowel motions)
- you have a mole that changes its colour, shape or size
- you have a sore that does not heal
- you find it hard to swallow, or you keep getting indigestion
- you can feel a lump or thickening anywhere on your body (for example in your breast or testicles)
- you are losing weight and don’t know why.
Remember that pain is not usually an early sign of cancer. Some people who do get a diagnosis of cancer, never have pain as a symptom.
The symptoms listed above are not the only possible ones. Each cancer has its own set of symptoms. You can get more information in our section on cancer types.
