Cancer - The early warning signs
Breast screening aims to detect cancer early for the best chance of a cure
It is important to remember that there aren?t any symptoms which are only due to cancer. So any symptoms you have could be due to a number of different conditions or illnesses.
So what are the symptoms of cancer?
Different cancers cause different symptoms - it depends on which part of the body is affected by the cancer as to which symptoms a person might have.
Some general symptoms which may be related to cancer include:
Tiredness
Weight loss
Loss of appetite
Pain is not usually a symptom of cancer in its early stages. Other symptoms which may be due to a cancer include:
A lump or swelling which doesn?t go away
A persistent cough or hoarseness
Change in bowel habit or bladder function (eg diarrhoea or constipation, pain or bleeding when having a pee, or going to the loo more often)
Indigestion or difficulty swallowing
A change in a mole ? colour, size or shape
Unusual bleeding or discharge.
When should I see my GP?
If you have a symptom that doesn?t go away, or a symptom that you are worried about, the first thing to do is to see your GP. They may refer you directly to a hospital or they may suggest some further tests to investigate the symptoms.
A GP is not usually able to diagnose cancer in the surgery, and tests will need to be done before the doctors can make a diagnosis.
Often, the most important of these tests is a biopsy, where a sample of tissue is taken and sent to the laboratory where it is examined under the microscope. How the biopsy is taken will depend on which part of the body is affected. It is not always possible to take a biopsy.
Other tests may include blood tests, X-rays and scans. There are a number of different types of scan and many different types of blood tests. Once the doctors have the results of the tests they can tell you more about your situation and what they recommend as treatment.
What is cancer screening?
Screening aims either to detect cancer at a very early stage (when treatment may be more effective), or detect changes in cells which, if left untreated, might become cancerous later.
In the UK, national screening is available for cancers of the breast and cervix. In some areas of the UK screening is also available for bowel cancer, and it should be available across the whole of the UK by 2009. Screening is also being looked at for ovarian and prostate cancer.For screening to be effective you need a test which is accurate and relatively easy to do. You also need to know what to do if any abnormalities are found. These may be further tests or treatment depending on the type of screening.
What screening programs are there in the UK?
The three screening programs currently available are breast screening, cervical screening and, in some areas, bowel cancer screening:
Breast screening
In the UK, women aged 50 to 70 (50-64 in Northern Ireland) are invited to attend for breast screening every three years as part of a national breast screening programme. This programme aims to find breast cancer very early so that women have the best chance of the cancer being cured. The screening involves having an X-ray of the breast (mammogram). This can detect changes in the breast tissue before they develop into a lump large enough for you or your doctor to feel.
If you are aged over 70 you can continue to have regular screening by making your own appointments at the breast screening clinic.
You may also be referred to a breast clinic for tests at any age if you find a change or lump in your breast tissue that worries you, even if you are already having screening as part of the breast screening programme.
Women with a significant family history of the disease may carry a higher risk of developing breast cancer. In this case they can discuss with their GP whether they should have regular screening before the age of 50.
Cervical screening
Cervical screening is a way of preventing cancer. Regular cervical screening every three to five years is the best way to detect changes to the cells of the cervix. Early detection and treatment can prevent cancer from developing in around 75 per cent of cases. Almost half of the women who develop cervical cancer in the UK have never had a cervical screening test.
Cervical screening involves taking a sample of cells from the cervix which is then examined in the laboratory. The sample can be taken using either a cervical smear or a method known as liquid-based cytology. Under the present UK Department of Health guidelines:
Women are sent their first invitation for routine cervical screening at the age of 25.
They are then invited for screening every three years until the age of 49.
From the age of 50 to 64 they are invited for screening every five years.
At the age of 65, women are no longer invited to have cervical screening unless they have had recent cervical changes. Women aged 65 and over who have never had a screening test are entitled to have one.
In Scotland and Wales the screening programs are slightly different: in Scotland women aged between 20 and 60 are invited for screening every three years; and in Wales, women aged between 20 and 64 are invited for screening every three years
Women who have had treatment for abnormal cells on the cervix may need to have a screening test more often.
Bowel cancer screening
Bowel cancer screening is a way of finding bowel cancers early, when they are small and there are no symptoms. The screening can also detect polyps, which are non-cancerous (benign) growths that may develop into cancer over time. Polyps can easily be removed, which reduces the risk of bowel cancer developing.
The first stage of bowel screening is a faecal occult blood (FOB) test. This test doesn?t diagnose bowel cancer but can detect tiny amounts of blood, which you can?t normally see, in your bowel motions (faeces). Occult blood means ?hidden blood?. Bowel cancers and polyps can sometimes bleed, which is why screening looks for blood in your bowel motions.
The NHS bowel cancer screening programme is being introduced gradually across the UK. In England, screening began in 2006. People aged between 60 and 69 will be offered an FOB test every two years. In Scotland the programme is starting in 2007 and will gradually be offered to all men and women aged between 50 and 74.
More information
If this article has raised any questions for you or caused any feelings of distress, you can call Cancerbackup?s freephone helpline 0808 800 1234 (Monday?Friday, 9am?8pm), where the charity?s team of experienced cancer nurses can answer any question on any cancer, or visit www.cancerbackup.org.uk
It is important to remember that there aren?t any symptoms which are only due to cancer. So any symptoms you have could be due to a number of different conditions or illnesses.
So what are the symptoms of cancer?
Different cancers cause different symptoms - it depends on which part of the body is affected by the cancer as to which symptoms a person might have.
Some general symptoms which may be related to cancer include:
Tiredness
Weight loss
Loss of appetite
Pain is not usually a symptom of cancer in its early stages. Other symptoms which may be due to a cancer include:
A lump or swelling which doesn?t go away
A persistent cough or hoarseness
Change in bowel habit or bladder function (eg diarrhoea or constipation, pain or bleeding when having a pee, or going to the loo more often)
Indigestion or difficulty swallowing
A change in a mole ? colour, size or shape
Unusual bleeding or discharge.
When should I see my GP?
If you have a symptom that doesn?t go away, or a symptom that you are worried about, the first thing to do is to see your GP. They may refer you directly to a hospital or they may suggest some further tests to investigate the symptoms.
A GP is not usually able to diagnose cancer in the surgery, and tests will need to be done before the doctors can make a diagnosis.
Often, the most important of these tests is a biopsy, where a sample of tissue is taken and sent to the laboratory where it is examined under the microscope. How the biopsy is taken will depend on which part of the body is affected. It is not always possible to take a biopsy.
Other tests may include blood tests, X-rays and scans. There are a number of different types of scan and many different types of blood tests. Once the doctors have the results of the tests they can tell you more about your situation and what they recommend as treatment.
What is cancer screening?
Screening aims either to detect cancer at a very early stage (when treatment may be more effective), or detect changes in cells which, if left untreated, might become cancerous later.
In the UK, national screening is available for cancers of the breast and cervix. In some areas of the UK screening is also available for bowel cancer, and it should be available across the whole of the UK by 2009. Screening is also being looked at for ovarian and prostate cancer.For screening to be effective you need a test which is accurate and relatively easy to do. You also need to know what to do if any abnormalities are found. These may be further tests or treatment depending on the type of screening.
What screening programs are there in the UK?
The three screening programs currently available are breast screening, cervical screening and, in some areas, bowel cancer screening:
Breast screening
In the UK, women aged 50 to 70 (50-64 in Northern Ireland) are invited to attend for breast screening every three years as part of a national breast screening programme. This programme aims to find breast cancer very early so that women have the best chance of the cancer being cured. The screening involves having an X-ray of the breast (mammogram). This can detect changes in the breast tissue before they develop into a lump large enough for you or your doctor to feel.
If you are aged over 70 you can continue to have regular screening by making your own appointments at the breast screening clinic.
You may also be referred to a breast clinic for tests at any age if you find a change or lump in your breast tissue that worries you, even if you are already having screening as part of the breast screening programme.
Women with a significant family history of the disease may carry a higher risk of developing breast cancer. In this case they can discuss with their GP whether they should have regular screening before the age of 50.
Cervical screening
Cervical screening is a way of preventing cancer. Regular cervical screening every three to five years is the best way to detect changes to the cells of the cervix. Early detection and treatment can prevent cancer from developing in around 75 per cent of cases. Almost half of the women who develop cervical cancer in the UK have never had a cervical screening test.
Cervical screening involves taking a sample of cells from the cervix which is then examined in the laboratory. The sample can be taken using either a cervical smear or a method known as liquid-based cytology. Under the present UK Department of Health guidelines:
Women are sent their first invitation for routine cervical screening at the age of 25.
They are then invited for screening every three years until the age of 49.
From the age of 50 to 64 they are invited for screening every five years.
At the age of 65, women are no longer invited to have cervical screening unless they have had recent cervical changes. Women aged 65 and over who have never had a screening test are entitled to have one.
In Scotland and Wales the screening programs are slightly different: in Scotland women aged between 20 and 60 are invited for screening every three years; and in Wales, women aged between 20 and 64 are invited for screening every three years
Women who have had treatment for abnormal cells on the cervix may need to have a screening test more often.
Bowel cancer screening
Bowel cancer screening is a way of finding bowel cancers early, when they are small and there are no symptoms. The screening can also detect polyps, which are non-cancerous (benign) growths that may develop into cancer over time. Polyps can easily be removed, which reduces the risk of bowel cancer developing.
The first stage of bowel screening is a faecal occult blood (FOB) test. This test doesn?t diagnose bowel cancer but can detect tiny amounts of blood, which you can?t normally see, in your bowel motions (faeces). Occult blood means ?hidden blood?. Bowel cancers and polyps can sometimes bleed, which is why screening looks for blood in your bowel motions.
The NHS bowel cancer screening programme is being introduced gradually across the UK. In England, screening began in 2006. People aged between 60 and 69 will be offered an FOB test every two years. In Scotland the programme is starting in 2007 and will gradually be offered to all men and women aged between 50 and 74.
More information
If this article has raised any questions for you or caused any feelings of distress, you can call Cancerbackup?s freephone helpline 0808 800 1234 (Monday?Friday, 9am?8pm), where the charity?s team of experienced cancer nurses can answer any question on any cancer, or visit www.cancerbackup.org.uk