Cancer
It's important to be aware of any unexplained changes to your body, such as the sudden appearance of a lump, blood in your urine, or a changeto your usual bowel habits.
These symptomsare often caused by other, non-cancerousillnesses, but it'simportant to see your GP sothey can investigate.
If your GP suspects cancer, they'll refer you to a specialist usually within two weeks.
The specialist will carry out further tests, such as a Biopsy or X-ray , and plan any necessary treatment.
See your GP straight away if you experience these types of symptoms.
See your GP if you've experienced one of the changes listed below and it's lasted for more than a few weeks:
You should also see your GP if you have any unexplained bleeding, such as:
See your GP if you have a mole that:
Any of the above changes means there's a chance you have malignant melanoma , a form of skin cancer.
You should also see your GP if you've lost a lot of weight over the last couple of months that can't be explained by changes to your diet, exercise or stress .
Read about unintentional weight loss .
The following links have more useful information about cancer.
Cancer Research UK: cancer symptom checker
Macmillan: signs and symptoms of cancer
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE): referral for suspected cancer
Read about cancer, a condition where cells in a specific part of the body begin to reproduce uncontrollably. The cancerous cells can invade and destroy surrounding healthy tissue.
It is important to be aware of any unexplained changes to your body, such as the sudden appearance of a lump, blood in your urine, or a change to your usual bowel habits.
The list below is a combination of the and brand names of medicines available in the UK. Each name provides a link to a separate website (Medicine Guides)