Do you have a strange symptom that’s been worrying you? Maybe it’s a persistent cough, an unusual lump or even a bleeding bottom? Then it’s time to get checked.

Most people don’t like talking about cancer, but doing so could save your life. Detecting the disease early means treatments are much simpler and more effective, meaning that many lives can be saved in Halton and St Helens every year.

It’s important that you know what to look out for, and to see your GP if you have any suspicious symptoms.

Key bowel cancer symptoms:

• Bleeding from your bottom – either in the toilet, in your poo, or when wiping.
• Going for a poo more often or your poo being more watery than usual for over three weeks.
• Pain in your stomach that happens most days, lasts for more than a few minutes and isn’t helped by having a poo.

Key breast cancer symptoms:

• A lump in either your breast or armpit.
• Change in appearance of your breast or nipple – such as skin dimpling or denting.
• Discharge from one of your nipples – possibly blood-stained.

Key lung cancer symptoms:

• A persistent cough that you’ve had for more than three weeks.
• Coughing up blood – any amount of blood in your spit or phlegm should be checked out straight away.
• Shortness of breath – feeling very out of breath, or more out of breath than is normal for you.

Dr Mel Forrest is a GP in Widnes. She’s urging anyone with cancer worries to see their Doctor and not be embarrassed:

“Most patients when they come, they’re quite worried, often apologise that they don’t want to bother us; they’re sure it’s nothing and they don’t want to waste our time.

“The reality is we want them to come. They’re not wasting our time so we need to see them as soon as possible.

“Normally we just ask a few questions, get some more detail about the symptom that they’re worried about, find out about their family history and probably examine them. Normally then we would refer them to hospital for further tests.”

Some tips to help you and your family:

1. Talk to your family about any symptoms they may have. Research shows people are much more likely to get checked out if a loved one encourages them to. Seeing their GP could save their life.
2. Ask older relatives if they have any of these symptoms. If they do, it’s important to reassure them they won’t be wasting a GP’s time by getting checked.
3. If you’re invited to cancer screening you should always take the chance to attend. Also, if you receive a bowel cancer screening kit it’s important to use and return the kit.

The NHS recommends that patients showing a key cancer symptom should be checked out by their GP. In many cases the symptom will prove to be something else and you’ll be able to put your mind at rest – but if it is cancer you’ll have given yourself the best chance of getting treated successfully by getting checked out earlier.

For more information about the Get checked campaign please visit  - www.healthimprovementteam.co.uk

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