Читать книгу The Cancer Directory - Dr. Daniel Rosy - Страница 59

The symptoms to look out for which could be cancer include:

• a new or unusual lump anywhere on the body or in the abdomen

• a change in the appearance of a mole

• a sore on the skin or in the mouth that won’t heal

• persistent coughing, hoarseness or blood in the sputum/spit

• prolonged constipation or diarrhoea, or blood in the stool

• difficulty in passing urine or blood in the urine

• unexplained weight loss

• unexplained fatigue

• difficulty swallowing and unexplained nausea

• severe headaches and odd neurological symptoms (such as weakness or numbness)

• unexplained abdominal swelling

• vaginal bleeding between periods and any vaginal bleeding after the menopause.

Of course, all of these symptoms can also result from much less serious conditions than cancer and, more often than not, a doctor will be able to reassure you that nothing is seriously wrong. However, it is important to wait until all of the appropriate diagnostic tests have been done. Too often, GPs give reassurance on the basis of a clinical examination in their surgery, only to be proved wrong at a later date. GPs expect patients to come back if symptoms persist, so it is important to trust yourself and keep going back if you think something is not right. Although most people are sent for tests immediately, far too many visit their GP over and over again before they are sent for the appropriate X-rays, blood tests or other investigations. They can then discover in the end that their intuition was right – that something is seriously wrong and that a cancer that could have been treated easily as a primary has now spread to other parts of the body. So, please be alert to whatever messages your body is giving you.

If you are really concerned that a GP is not responding to you appropriately, get a second opinion from another GP or even arrange to have investigations done privately or through an integrated medicine doctor.

Ask yourself what support you need to get through the diagnostic process.