Spotting cancer symptoms earlier can help get a diagnosis when the cancer is at an early stage. For most cancers, this means treatment is more likely to be successful.
It is important you know what the early signs and symptoms of cancer are.
Possible symptoms of cancer
Different types of cancer have their own symptoms.
General Cancer Symptoms
General symptoms which could be a sign of cancer can include:
- Very heavy nights sweats or fever
Find out more about specifics below:
Skin symptoms affecting your skin
- A new mole, or changes to a mole anywhere on your body
- Changes in your skin, such as a rash or sore that does not get better
- The whites of your eyes or your skin looking yellow (jaundice) – yellow skin may be harder to see on black or brown skin
Stomach symptoms can include
- Heartburn or indigestion that’s frequent, very painful or gets worse
- A swollen tummy (bloating) that happens often or lasts a long time
- Changes in your poo, such as needing to poo more or less often than usual, diarrhoea or constipation that does not get better or gets worse
Mouth and throat symptoms can include
- Problems swallowing
- A hoarse or croaky voice that does not get better
- A sore or ulcer in your mouth that does not get better after 3 weeks
- White or red patches in your mouth
Lung and breathing symptoms can include:
- A cough that does not get better or gets worse
- Shortness of breath that does not get better or gets worse
- Coughing up blood
Vagina symptoms can include
- Vaginal discharge that’s not usual for you
- Unusual vaginal bleeding, such as bleeding between periods or after sex, or bleeding after the menopause
Urological symptoms can include
- Blood in your semen
- Difficult getting an erection
