Top eight cancer signs pinpointed
The eight unexplained symptoms most closely linked to cancer have been highlighted by researchers.
Eight cancer signs
- Anaemia
- Blood in urine
- Coughing up blood
- Difficulty swallowing
- Breast lump or mass
- Post-menopausal bleeding
- Abnormal prostate test
- Rectal blood
The Keele University team also points to the age at which patients should be most concerned by the symptoms, which include blood in urine and anaemia. The other symptoms are: rectal blood, coughing up blood, breast lump or mass, difficulty swallowing, post-menopausal bleeding and abnormal prostate tests. Cancer Research UK said unusual changes in a person's health should be checked.
The researchers were looking for symptoms which gave a one in 20 or higher chance of turning out to be cancer. Although this still represents a relatively low chance of anyone with the symptom having the disease, any suspicion of cancer can mean that the patient is sent for tests more quickly, in order to catch the disease as early as possible.
Read the whole article at BBC News
Reference
- Mark Shapley, Gemma Mansell, Joanne L Jordan, & Kelvin P Jordan (2010). Positive predictive values of ≥5% in primary care for cancer: systematic review British Journal of General Practice DOI: 10.3399/bjgp10X515412
Keywords: cancer signs
27. 8. 2010 BBC News
