When you experience unusual symptoms, your body may be trying to tell you something important – so don’t ignore them.

Although women are generally better about going to the doctor than men, it is still easy to ignore an unusual health symptom when you are so busy you barely have time to brush your hair. Most women are juggling lots of balls in the air all the time – working, looking after children, cleaning, cooking meals… and that’s just before breakfast! But in all seriousness, when it comes to health, women are not taking heed when their own bodies tell them something is amiss. When it comes to cancer, that could be a fatal mistake – early diagnosis means treatment can start quickly and the prognosis is often better.

The truth of the matter
Cancer is on the rise. Recent figures released by the Office for National Statistics revealed over one in three of us will suffer from cancer in our lives. In 2009, there were 130,000 newly diagnosed cases of malignant female cancers in England, a rise of 3% from 2008.

‘There are over 200 different types of cancer,’ says Russ Hargreaves, Macmillan cancer information and support manager at the Macmillan Centre, Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust. ‘We don’t know the causes for each one of these cancers, but we do know about some. These rises can be explained by better screening tests and programmes, plus increased awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer. However, for many cancers, there may be more than one cause. Factors such as drinking too much alcohol, obesity, smoking, age and the fact we are living longer can all increase the risk of developing certain cancers.’

Breast cancer is the most common cancer for women – it accounts for almost a third of the cancers that cause death. The second most common is lung cancer. Unlike men, where there is a downward trend of incidences, for women this cancer is on the rise. Between 1993 and 2008, the number of women with lung cancer rose from 35 to 39 per 100,000, while in men it fell from 88 to 60 per 100,000.

‘Lung cancer is the biggest cancer killer of men and women in the UK, with the incidence rates for British women over 60 doubling since the mid-1970s,’ says Russ. ‘We know that smoking is the cause of most cases and women are becoming much more likely to smoke than men, putting them at greater risk of developing lung cancer.’

Colorectal is the next most common cancer for women, at 10%. So almost half of female cancer deaths, 47%, are caused by these three cancers. Ovary and pancreatic are the next two cancers that cause the most deaths. So what symptoms should you be taking notice of?

The top 10 symptoms women ignore (and shouldn’t)

1. Unexplained weight loss
Much as most of you would be delighted to lose weight without any effort, if you have lost more than 10lbs in a month, without exercising more or eating less, then you need to see your doctor. It could be a sign of an underactive thyroid, or a symptom of cancer.

What the doctor may do ‘You’d almost certainly have some blood tests, although there is sadly no general blood test for cancer,’ says Russ. ‘In addition, you may be sent for an X-ray, mammogram or ultrasound test, depending on where your other symptoms originate from.’

2. Bloating
All women feel bloated now and again and it’s nothing to worry about, but if it happens almost every day and persists for more than a few weeks, then you need to get it checked out. In rare cases, it can be a symptom of ovarian cancer, although this will usually occur with abdominal or pelvic pain.

What the doctor may do ‘It’s likely you will probably have a physical examination by pressing gently on your abdomen and pelvis, as this can help to identify any worrying lumps, bumps or tender areas,’ says Russ. ‘They may also ask more questions about your medical history, for example, how many periods you’ve been having, particularly if you are post-menopausal. You may have a blood test to check whether there are raised levels of the CA125 protein in your blood. The level may be higher in women with ovarian cancer, as it’s sometimes produced by ovarian cancer cells. However, raised levels of CA125 can also be found in women who have other non-cancerous conditions.’
 
3. Bleeding
If you are bleeding between your periods and you don’t normally, then you need to get this looked at. Also, if you are post-menopausal and start to bleed or you bleed after sex, see your GP.

What the doctor may do ‘Lots of women suffer from the occasional bleed when they don’t expect it. For very few, this will be a sign of cancer, but it is important to keep an eye on this and let your doctor know if it continues. It may be hormonal, especially if you are of menopausal age, or it might reflect an infection,’ explains Russ.

4. Breast changes
Breast lumps are something that most of us know to keep an eye out for, but there are other signs that may indicate something is wrong.These include skin changes on the breast, such as dimpling or indentation of the skin and wrinkles, nipple changes, discharge when you are not breastfeeding, breast swelling and redness or an enlarged underarm lymph node.

What the doctor may do Your breasts will be carefully examined and you may be referred to a specialist clinic to have a mammogram, ultrasound,
MRI scan and possibly a biopsy.

5. Skin changes
Checking for changes in moles – including growth and texture changes – is something most of us are aware of, but keep an eye out for bleeding on your skin or lots of scaling as these are also signs of melanoma. ‘Get to know your skin,’ says Russ. ‘You are the most likely person to notice changes in your skin, such as new lesions, moles that have changed in size and shape, moles that have started to bleed or are itchy. Skin cancer can be treated and cured if detected early.’

What the doctor may do ‘Most people will be referred to a skin specialist for advice and treatment,’ explains Russ. ‘They will be able to tell a great deal from a simple examination, but you may also be advised to have a biopsy. This is a quick and simple procedure, which can usually be done in the outpatients department using a local anaesthetic. The doctor will remove all or part of the affected area and send it to be examined by a pathologist.’

6. Indigestion
Having indigestion now and again is nothing to worry about, but if you are suffering persistently and over a long period or it is particularly painful, ask your doctor for advice, as it could be an early clue to cancer of the oesophagus, stomach or throat.

What the doctor may do ‘Your doctor might refer you for a chest X-ray in the first instance,’ says Russ. ‘If your symptoms persist, you may need an endoscopy, where a tube is passed down your throat and into your stomach. This is an effective way of spotting cancers and biopsies can be taken and sent for examination.’

7. Mouth changes
If you’re a smoker, you need to be extra vigilant about checking for changes, particularly white patches in the mouth or white tongue spots.

What the doctor may do ‘Mouth cancers are the most common cancers that affect the head and neck,’ says Russ. ‘They can begin in any part of the mouth. These types of cancer are most often picked up by dentists, so it is important to continue having regular check-ups, especially if you are a smoker or a frequent drinker. You may be referred to an ear, nose and throat specialist who may want to run additional scans and X-rays to get a better idea of what’s going on.’

8. Fever
Don’t worry if you have an infection or virus, but if it’s unexplainable and persistent it could be a blood cancer, such as lymphoma or leukaemia.

What the doctor may do After examination, he may order blood tests to be taken, a chest X-ray, CT scan, MRI scan or other tests, depending on the findings.

9. Fatigue
There are many causes of tiredness, but it can be a symptom or an early sign of a cancer, such as stomach, bowel or leukaemia.

What the doctor may do ‘People experience fatigue for all sorts of reasons and it is important not to assume it’s always cancer,’ says Russ. ‘Your doctor can run blood tests to check for signs, such as anaemia, which might indicate that you are losing blood without knowing it.’

10. Persistent cough
Smokers again beware – although there are many causes of coughs, from colds to allergies, a prolonged cough lasting more than three or four weeks should not be ignored.

What the doctor may do ‘It is really important to remember these symptoms are also common in conditions other than cancer,’ says Russ. ‘However, the key to success is early diagnosis, so if you develop these symptoms it’s vital to get them checked in order to rule out cancer.’

Lorraine says...‘I check my boobs and have regular smear tests and do a check of my freckles. It’s important to be aware of changes in your body. If you see anything different go to your GP. That goes for the men in our lives, too.’

 Image: Getty