THERE are some symptoms most of us would be able to recognise as possible signs of cancer: a lump in our breast, sudden weight loss or a mole that suddenly looks a bit funny.
But changes brought on by the deadly disease aren’t always so obvious and they can be easy to dismiss – especially is they’re similar to things we experience daily, like tiredness or bloating or a reaction to foods.
Persistent indigestion can be a subtle sign of cancer
But there’s a difference between tiredness, for example, and persistent fatigue.
And if a specific symptom seems to be hanging on for a while, it’s a good idea to get it checked out by a GP.
Dr Alexandra Oliver, associate clinical director at Bupa Health Clinics (bupa.co.uk), told The Independent: “In most cases, it’s likely to be nothing serious, but making sure you get checked out by a doctor if you have any symptoms, particularly persistent ones, is essential.”
Dr Julie Sharp, head of health and patient information at Cancer Research UK, added: “Catching cancer early means treatment is more likely to be successful.”
Here are seven subtle signs that could mean you have cancer – including one you might spot while you’re having dinner.
1. Persistent indigestion and heartburn
Indigestion is fairly common and most people will experience it at some point, according to the NHS.
It’s often caused by acid from your stomach irritating your stomach lining or throat and can be made worse by food and drink like coffee, tomatoes, alcohol, chocolate, as well as fatty or spicy foods.
Pregnancy, smoking or being obese could also make you more likely to experience indigestion.
According to Dr Oliver: “Occasional acid reflux can be normal, but when it doesn’t go away, it can result from gastroesophageal reflux disease, a hiatus hernia, oesophageal cancer or stomach cancer.”
If you constantly being plagued by indigestion or heartburn, you should speak to a doctor just in case, she said.
2. Persistent bloating
Bloating isn’t usually something serious and could be caused by a gastrointestinal condition, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
But if you’ve been feeling bloated most days for the past few weeks, speak to your GP, Dr Oliver advised.
According to GP and author Dr Anisha Patel, something like ovarian cancer could be behind your swollen tummy – especially if you notice your bloating is constant and it’s not related when you’re eating.
Rarely, it can also be caused by other cancers, such as bowel, stomach, pancreas and uterine cancer.
3. Fatigue
If you’re having trouble sleeping or going through something stressful, it’s normal that you’d be feeling more tired than usual.
But if you can’t pin your fatigue to a clear reason and you feel that way all the time, it could be a sign that something is wrong.
Fatigue may be a symptom of blood cancers, such as leukaemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma.
This is because these cancers start in the bone marrow, which produces red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout the body.
4. Mouth or tongue ulcer or patch that won’t heal
Ulcers are small sores – it’s common to get them in your mouth when you’re run down but they usually go away in about two weeks.
But if an ulcer or red or white patch on your mouth or tongue is lingering and hasn’t healed for three weeks, it’s something to raise with your doctor or dentist.
Ulcers or patches can be a symptom of mouth and oropharyngeal cancer, as can difficulty swallowing and speech problems.
5. Persistent hoarseness or cough
Coughs are ever so common and most of them will get them yearly and get over then in a matter of days or weeks.
But Dr Oliver said if a cough persists for more than three weeks, it’s definitely worth getting it checked out by your GP, as there’s a small chance it could be linked to lung cancer.
The same goes for hoarseness, especially if it lasts over 10 days – it could hint at laryngeal cancer.
6. Night sweats
In most cases night sweats are normal, and often caused by hormonal changes when a woman is on her period or going through menopause.
But, waking up dripping in sweat is also a red-flag sign of cancer that is important to get checked out, according to Cancer Research UK.
It can be a sign of bone cancer, leukaemia and liver cancer.
If you’re worried about night sweats, speak to your GP.
