When cancer hits the best chances of a cure are with early detection and treatment. Cancer Research UK reported on Dec. 2, 2014 people are putting their lives at risk when they dismiss cancer symptoms. According to new research people could be putting their lives at risk when they dismiss potential warning signs of cancer as being less serious symptoms.
In a health questionnaire 53 per cent of 1,700 people said they had experienced at least one red flag cancer symptom during the previous three months. However, only two per cent of them gave consideration to cancer as a possible cause. The questionnaire listed 17 symptoms which included 10 widely publicized potential cancer warning signs such as bleeding, an unexplained cough, and a persistent change in bowel or bladder habits. The subjects were all 50 years old and older and were registered with three London general practices.
The results of this study showed that people rarely attributed potential signs of cancer to the actual disease. They generally felt the symptoms were due to other causes such as infection, arthritis, piles, cysts, and age. Dr Katriina Whitaker, who is a senior research fellow at University College London and lead study author, said most people with potential warning symptoms of cancer don’t have cancer. However, some will have cancer and others may be suffering from other diseases that could benefit from early detection and attention. It’s therefore clearly important that such symptoms be checked out, particularly if they don’t go away.
Sara Hiom, who is the director of early diagnosis at Cancer Research UK, said that it’s important for people to make a doctor’s appointment when warning signs of cancer appear. This really could save your life. There is a much better chance that treatments will be successful when cancer is diagnosed early. That appointment with a GP is certainly not a waste of time. The majority of cancers are picked up through people seeing their GP about symptoms.
This study has been published in the journal PLOS ONE. When there is attribution of early cancer symptoms to a cause which is not serious this may lead to longer diagnostic intervals. The researchers found that consistent with retrospective reports taken from cancer patients what are considered alarm symptoms for cancer experienced in daily life were not often attributed to cancer. It’s a big mistake not to consider cancer when such symptoms occur. Acting upon a recognition that cancer is possible with an appointment to be examined by a GP could really turn out to be life saving.
Credit : Dr. Ashutosh Marwah (Pediatric Cardiologist 20 Years Experience)
