Be Cancer Aware Spotting symptoms and reducing your risk - Public Health Agency
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Be Cancer
Aware
Spotting
symptoms
and
reducing
your riskIt is estimated that one in two The most common cancers in
people will develop some form Northern Ireland are:
of cancer during their lifetime. • breast cancer
The good news is that cancer
survival is improving, with twice • lung cancer
as many people surviving cancer • bowel cancer
compared with 40 years ago.
• prostate cancer
• skin cancer
About this booklet
This booklet will help you:
• recognise the signs and symptoms of cancer
• make lifestyle changes to reduce your risk of cancer
Further information is available at www.becancerawareni.info
Get checked early
You should see your GP if you have any of the symptoms
included in this booklet. Although it’s unlikely to be cancer,
it’s important to speak to a GP so they can investigate.
Finding cancer early means it’s easier to treat.
2Be aware of cancer symptoms
Changes to your body’s Don’t let fear of what the
normal processes or unusual, doctor might find or feelings
unexplained symptoms can of embarrassment stop you
sometimes be an early sign from getting checked out.
of cancer. It’s important to be Spotting cancer early
cancer aware, to know what increases the chances of
signs and symptoms to look treating it successfully.
out for. The diagram on page 4
shows some things that could General signs
be symptoms of cancer. In Signs of cancer can also be
many cases these symptoms more general, such as:
will turn out to be a sign of
• A sore that won’t heal
something far less serious,
but if it is cancer, an early • A new mole or changes
to a mole
diagnosis means treatment is
more likely to be successful. • An unusual lump or
swelling
Cancer becomes more common • New, unexplained pain or
ache
as we get older, with most cases
• Extreme tiredness
in people aged 50 or over. But
whatever your age, it’s always • Very heavy night sweats
best to listen to your body and
act on any concerns. You should
talk to your GP if something
doesn’t feel quite right.
3If something is unusual for you, tell your
doctor – even if it is not on this list.
• Croaky voice,
hoarseness or
a cough that • Breathlessness
won’t go away
(three weeks • Difficulty
or more) swallowing
• Blood in spit or
vomit
• Persistent
indigestion
or
• Lump or heartburn
changes
in your
breast
• Change in bowel • Loss of
habit (three appetite and/
weeks or more) or unexplained
weight loss
• Blood in your
poo or pee • Persistent
bloating
• Unexplained
vaginal bleeding
• Problems
peeing
4Reduce your risk of cancer
Your risk of cancer can depend Diet and physical activity
on many different things. Some A healthy diet and regular
of these can’t be changed, like exercise will help you to keep a
your genes or age. But there healthy weight, or lose weight if
are lots of things that you can you need to. This can help you
do to reduce your risk. reduce the risk of developing
Making some simple changes some cancers.
to your lifestyle can significantly To check you are a healthy
reduce your risk of developing weight, you need to measure your
cancer. Eating a healthy diet, waist size and calculate your body
taking regular exercise, reducing mass index (BMI). To learn more,
your alcohol intake, and stopping see the ‘Measuring up’ section
smoking will all help to lower on the ‘Choose to Live Better’
your risk of cancer. It is also website. Here you’ll also find:
important to take care in the • Top tips on how you can easily
sun. Speak to your pharmacist make healthier choices.
for advice and further support.
• Advice on how to set targets.
Care in the sun
• Information on what a
Too much ultraviolet (UV) light,
healthy and balanced diet
either from natural sunlight or
looks like.
from artificial sources such as
sunbeds, is the main cause of • Lots of healthy recipes to help
skin cancers. Many skin cancers you and your family eat better.
are preventable. The best way to • Tips to help you get active.
enjoy the sun safely and protect Visit www.choosetolivebetter.com
your skin from sunburn is to
use a combination of shade, If you want to lose weight do it
clothing and sunscreen. safely and at a realistic pace –
it’s the best way to reach your
Find out more about reducing healthy weight and to maintain
your risk of skin cancer at that weight in the long term.
www.careinthesun.org
5Alcohol Smoking
Alcohol can cause weight gain. It Quitting smoking is one of the
is also directly linked to certain best things you can do to improve
types of cancer. To reduce your your health. Most lung cancer
risk of alcohol-related health deaths are caused by smoking. It
problems, including your risk of also causes leukaemia and other
some cancers, you should reduce cancers, as well as lots of other
your alcohol intake and not drink serious illnesses.
more than 14 units of alcohol a
The Public Health Agency’s
week (men and women). If you
website ‘Stop Smoking NI’
do drink that much, it is best to
offers a range of information
spread it over three days or more,
and advice for those wanting
and to have several alcohol-free
to quit smoking, including
days each week. These guidelines
information on local cessation
apply whether you drink regularly,
services. You can also order
or only occasionally.
your free ‘Quit Kit’ to give you
Find out how many units of the best chance of success in
alcohol are in your favourite becoming smoke free. Visit
drinks – an alcohol units guide www.stopsmokingni.info
is available from your pharmacy
Support is also available in your
or get it online - visit
local community pharmacy and
www.drugsandalcoholni.info/
from your GP.
alcohol-units
Small changes, big difference
A few small changes to what
you eat and drink and to your
level of physical activity can
make a big difference to your
long term health.
6If you have health concerns, talk to
your doctor
Making lifestyle changes your GP is there to help you and
can help reduce your risk of will want to see you. If you’d
developing certain cancers. But prefer to see a male or a female
it’s important to be aware of doctor, you can ask if one is
general signs and symptoms available.
of cancer. If you have any signs
and symptoms you should talk Get checked early
to your GP as soon as possible. The important thing is you
Don’t worry that you might be contact your GP and get
wasting their time – you are not. checked early. The cause of
If something is unusual for you the symptoms is probably not
or won’t go away, your doctor cancer, but if it is, spotting it
will want to hear about it. You at an early stage could save
may feel uncomfortable talking your life.
about these kinds of things, but
7Cancer screening
Regular cancer screening is every three years and women aged
important. Screening can detect between 50 and 64 are invited every
certain cancers before you have five years. If you are invited for
any symptoms. Finding cancers screening, it’s important to attend.
early means that treatment has a
better chance of success. Cervical A home screening test kit is sent
screening can even prevent cancer out for bowel cancer to people
from developing. aged 60 to 74 years. If you receive
a test kit, it’s important you collect
The Public Health Agency runs your sample and return it in the
screening programmes for envelope provided.
breast, cervical and bowel cancers.
To receive an invitation you Screening saves lives from cancer.
must be registered with a GP in For more information on cancer
Northern Ireland. screening programmes visit
www.pha.site/early-detection
Women aged 50 to 70 years are
invited for breast screening every Remember, cancer screening is
three years. Women aged over 70 for people without symptoms, so if
won’t receive routine screening you’ve noticed a change, don’t wait
invitations, but can arrange an for screening – contact your GP as
appointment by contacting their soon as possible. Early diagnosis
local screening unit. of cancer means treatment is more
likely to be successful.
Cervical screening is offered to
women aged 25 to 64 years. Women For more information on cancer,
aged between 25 and 49 are invited visit www.becancerawareni.info
07/21You can also read
