- cancer information
- Early Signs and Symptoms
Early Signs and Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of some common cancers
There are many different signs and symptoms of cancer. If you have any of the symptoms listed here, please get advice from your doctor, nurse, pharmacist or GP practice.
Find out more
What are the signs and symptoms of cancer?
Early recognition of cancer symptoms 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.
Different types of cancers have different symptoms. The signs and symptoms of these may vary from person to person, even if they have the same type of cancer. Some people may have several symptoms, while other people have very few.
- Ongoing symptoms last for more than a few weeks, or keeps coming back.
- Unexplained symptoms have no obvious or clear cause. For example, a new lump, or bleeding when you have not hurt yourself.
- Symptoms that are unusual for you are changes in your body that are not normal for you. For example, it could be a change in a cough you have had for a long time, or a change in a mole on your skin.
Symptoms
Brain
- Persistent headache
- Drowsiness or loss of consciousness
- Impaired co-ordination
- Difficulty while walking/doing everyday activities/talking
- Changes to senses. Problems with your eyes
- Bladder control
- Changes in mood/personality
- Nausea
- Short term memory loss
- Seizures(fits)
Cancer Research UK
Breast
- Lumps or any changes to the look or feel of your breast, chest, nipple or armpit
- Discharge or bleeding
- Texture or colour changes
- Lumps in your armpit
- Nipple inversion
Cancer Research UK
Colorectal
(Bowel)
- Bowel changes (lasting 3 weeks or more) including needing to poo more or less often
- Loose poo (diarrhoea)
- Blood when you poo
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Abdominal pain
- Bloating
Cancer Research UK
Gynaecology
(Ovaries /cervix/womb/endometrial)
- Feeling bloated or swollen tummy often or for a long time
- Weight changes
- Feeling full quickly after eating
- Bleeding after sex
- Fatigue
- Altered toilet habits
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge
- Abdominal/ back or pelvic pain
Cancer Research UK
Head and Neck
(Throat/mouth/voice box/thyroid)
- Cough or hoarse voice (either of these lasting for 3 weeks or more)
- Pain – persistent sore throat radiating into the ear
- Ulcers on your tongue or anywhere on your mouth (lasts more than 3 week)
- Neck lumps that are out of the ordinary
- Weight loss
- Swallowing changes
- Patches in your mouth (red or white)
- Mouth odour
Haematology
(Blood)
- Lumps in your neck, groin or armpit
- Fatigue
- Unexplained fever/sweats especially at night
- Weight loss
- Shortness of breath
- Bruising or bleeding
- Infections
- Rash
- Pain in joints and bones
Cancer Research UK
Skin
- Skin changes / moles which are uneven or irregular in shape
- Uneven or bumpy edges
- Is more than one colour
- Is more than 6mm wide
- Changes in size, shape or colour, tingles, itches or bleeds, or is crusty
Cancer Research UK
Lung
- Persistent cough for more than 3 weeks
- Breathing problems, feeling short of breath for no reason
- Coughing up blood (haemoptysis)
- Loss of appetite
- Feeling generally unwell
- Chest or shoulder pain
- Weight loss
- Neck lump
Cancer Research UK
NHS
Hepatobiliary
(Pancreas/Gall bladder/liver)
- Weight loss
- Stomach pain and distention
- Vomiting
- Weakness
- Fatigue
- Jaundice (yellow discoloration of the skin/whites of the eyes)
- White stools
- Loss of appetite
Thyroid
- Neck / ear pain
- Swelling
- Lumps
- Difficulty breathing
- Hoarse voice
- Frequent cough
- Hot flushes
NHS
Urology
(Prostate/bladder and kidney)
- Needing to pee suddenly
- Pain when you pee
- Blood in your pee
- Sexual disfunction
- Bone pain – back, hips or pelvis
- Swollen feet
- Lumps in your back under the ribs /neck
- Fatigue
- Persistent high temperature/sweating
Cancer Research UK
Upper Gastrointestinal
(Stomach/oesophagus(gullet)
- Persistent bloating after eating
- Persistent heartburn
- Persistent indigestion
- Lack of appetite
- Nausea & vomiting
- Weight loss
- Bloody or black stools
- Vague discomfort in upper abdomen
- Anaemia
- Fatigue
