Cancer Symptoms and Warning Signs

Understanding what is normal for your body can help you identify persistent changes or new symptoms that may require medical assessment. Although most symptoms are not caused by cancer, it is important to seek medical advice if symptoms are persistent, unexplained or progressively worsening. Early detection can help diagnose cancer at an earlier stage and improve treatment outcomes and survival.

It is important to remember that many cancers in their early stages may not cause any symptoms. This is why population-based screening programmes play a vital role in cancer prevention and early diagnosis.

Warning Signs and Symptoms

It is advisable to consult a healthcare professional if you experience any of the following symptoms, particularly if they persist for several weeks or have no obvious cause:

  • Unintentional or unexplained weight loss.
  • Persistent lumps, swellings or nodules anywhere in the body.
  • Abnormal bleeding or discharge, such as blood in the stool, urine or sputum, or unusual vaginal bleeding.
  • Persistent or unexplained pain that does not improve or has no apparent cause.
  • Severe and persistent fatigue that is not relieved by rest.
  • Changes in the skin, including new lesions, changes in existing moles, wounds that do not heal, or persistent changes in skin colour.
  • Difficulty swallowing or a persistent sensation of food sticking in the throat.
  • Persistent cough, hoarseness or unexplained breathing difficulties.
  • Persistent changes in bowel or bladder habits, such as constipation, diarrhoea, increased urinary frequency or difficulty passing urine.

When to Consult a Healthcare Professional

You do not need to wait until symptoms become severe before seeking medical advice. Current recommendations suggest arranging a medical assessment if any of the following warning signs occur:

  • A persistent lump or thickening in the breast, neck, armpit, testicle or any other part of the body.
  • A cough or hoarseness lasting more than three weeks, particularly in people who smoke or have smoked in the past.
  • Persistent changes in bowel habits or stool characteristics lasting several weeks.
  • Rectal bleeding, blood in the stool, haematuria (blood in the urine), or abnormal vaginal bleeding.
  • Progressive difficulty swallowing food or liquids.
  • Skin lesions, ulcers or wounds that do not heal.
  • Unintentional weight loss, severe fatigue or prolonged fever without an obvious explanation.

Cancer Diagnosis

If symptoms or suspicious findings are present, your doctor will carry out a clinical assessment, which may include:

  • Medical history and physical examination.
  • Blood tests and other laboratory investigations.
  • Imaging tests, such as X-rays, ultrasound scans, CT scans, MRI scans and PET-CT scans.
  • Endoscopic examinations or other organ-specific procedures where appropriate.
  • A biopsy, which remains the most important test for confirming most cancer diagnoses.

Today, cancer diagnosis is not based solely on identifying a tumour. International guidelines recommend incorporating pathological, immunohistochemical and molecular studies when appropriate. These investigations help to characterise the cancer more accurately and support the selection of the most effective treatment for each individual patient.