ONE in two people will develop cancer in their lifetime, according to charity Cancer Research UK. So it pays to be in tune with your body and know what’s normal for you.
In many cases, symptoms may not be anything to worry about, and your GP may refer you for tests to rule out cancer.
But in some instances, early detection could save your life. Survival rates are generally best when the disease is detected early.
And if caught early, the need for more invasive treatment, such as chemotherapy, may be reduced.
Understanding cancer
Cancer is when abnormal cells divide in an uncontrolled way. Left untreated, some cancers can eventually spread to other body parts – a process that’s known as metastasis.
In the UK, cancers affecting the breast, lung, prostate and bowel rank in the top four. But there are more than 200 types, each diagnosed and treated in a particular way.
Recognizing blood cancers
"Together, blood cancers make up the fifth most common cancer in the UK, with over 41,000 people diagnosed every year," explains Professor Peter Johnson, NHS England’s national clinical director for cancer.
"Symptoms can vary, and some can seem general – such as breathlessness, night sweats, or feeling tired when you’re not sure why."
Furthermore, Cancer Research UK says that around 20,000 more cancer cases are detected in deprived areas compared with affluent ones each year, with late-stage diagnoses more likely in these communities.
That’s why it’s crucial to contact your GP practice when you discover something unusual.
"We know that many people don’t want to bother anyone with their health concerns – particularly if they are unsure about them – but we would always prefer you to contact your GP practice so that you can be checked," Professor Johnson adds.
"If something in your body doesn’t feel right, please come forward. It could be nothing serious, but it could save your life."
One woman's story
Anna Mamwell, 48, lives in Louth, Lincolnshire, with her husband Lee and daughter Imogen. She was working as a pharmacy dispensary assistant when she developed acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), a type of blood cancer, at the age of 39. She is currently in remission.
When Anna Mamwell was struck down with flu-like symptoms in April 2015, she never imagined it would be anything serious.
The busy mum of a then eight-year-old had always been fit and well, and simply assumed she was under the weather.
But when her thumping headache, loss of appetite, lack of energy, bone pain in her neck and fever failed to subside after ten days, she called her doctor’s surgery.
By this time, a rash had spread across her chest. And her period, which was usually light, was very heavy.
"I saw my nurse practitioner, who was quite thorough, gave me an examination, and said she’d give me antibiotics to sort out any infection," Anna recalls.
"As I was leaving her room, she said, ‘Oh, actually go and have some bloods done as well and we’ll see if it shows anything.’"
That decision would prove to save Anna’s life, as unbeknown to her, she had acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), a type of blood cancer that develops quickly.
Approximately 3,100 people are diagnosed with AML each year in the UK, according to the charity Blood Cancer UK.
Three-quarters (75 per cent) of the people affected are aged 60 or over, but AML can happen at any age. Only 15 per cent of patients survive for five years or more following diagnosis, and it often requires urgent treatment.
Fortunately, Anna’s GP called her within three hours of her attending. "He was very calm and said I needed to go to the hospital immediately as there was something wrong with my blood," Anna remembers.
"I’ve seen my blood results now. They were way out and screaming leukaemia. Obviously, he couldn’t say that to me over the phone."
Anna was rushed to Lincoln County Hospital – 45 minutes away – where doctors were waiting for her.
"I had really good care from the start," she recalls. "Bloods were done, I was put on fluids and given all sorts of interventions through the night, including antibiotics, as my body was in crisis.
"The next day, I had a bone marrow biopsy. Within a couple of hours, I was officially diagnosed. The whole system fell into place… and the NHS worked amazingly."
Within 24 hours, Anna had begun the first of four cycles of intense high-dose chemotherapy that would keep her in hospital for six months. "The care was second to none," she says.
Anna has been in remission for over eight years and remains vigilant for signs and symptoms.
She still works as a pharmacy dispensary assistant and is also a passionate patient advocate, urging people to know what’s normal for their bodies and contact their GP practice if they suspect anything unusual.
"I tell people to write down their symptoms, as we often go to the GP and forget some of them," she says.
"In my case, I forgot to mention that my period was heavy, and that was unusual for me. Yet unusual heavy bleeding, whether it’s your period or a nosebleed, or whatever, is a symptom of blood cancer."
She also advises people to go "armed with information" and to check out the Blood Cancer UK website if they suspect they have signs of blood cancer. "They have a symptom checker, which you can print off," she says.
"You can go to the doctor, say I’ve ticked six out of eight symptoms. If you pre-empt it, be proactive – you have evidence; if you suspect it’s something serious, you’ve got something to go on.
"Only 50 per cent of UK adults can name blood cancer symptoms and that is why I am advocating for body awareness.
"I always find it quite ironic that even someone like me, working in a doctor’s surgery pharmacy, who had medical people all around me and was very aware of symptoms of all sorts of diseases, didn’t pick up that I had leukaemia symptoms, which highlights the need for being aware and to not ignore symptoms, thinking that they might be nothing."
Anna admits that cancer is not an easy topic to think about. But she points out one in two people will be affected by cancer someday and urges people to contact their local medical practice.
"The GP practice doesn’t have to be the first point of contact," she says. "There are brilliant healthcare professionals that work alongside GPs who can signpost you, and, in my case, it was a nurse practitioner who escalated the blood tests.
"From there, the pathology lab spotted something wasn’t right and did further testing, which showed leukaemia-specific cells. They highlighted this to the on-call haematologist specialist, who said I needed to be in hospital now; then my GP rang me straight away."
Anna urges people not to brush off symptoms. "Don’t dismiss them, it’s your life, and ultimately, you’re the only person who cares more about your life than anyone else. You have to be your own advocate."
Stay alert
It may be nothing serious, but it pays to be aware of the symptoms.
These can present in all shapes and sizes. If something in your body doesn’t feel right for you or you experience one or more of the symptoms below, contact your local GP practice:
- Breathlessness
- Frequent infections
- Unexplained night sweats
- Unexpected or unexplained bruising or bleeding
- Blood in your pee – even just once
- An unexplained lump
- Blood in your poo, which may look red or black
- Unexplained weight loss
For three weeks or more:
- Tummy trouble, such as discomfort or diarrhoea
- Unexplained pain or discomfort
- Feeling tired and unwell and not sure why
- Heartburn or indigestion
- Unusual, pale or greasy poo
- A cough that lasts for three weeks or more
For more information, go to nhs.uk/cancersymptoms
