Cancer isn’t on anyone’s second-half wish list. But by brushing up on signs and symptoms, we’re more likely to catch it in its early stages.
‘Silent cancer is a term used to describe cancers that either do not show any noticeable early symptoms, or whose early symptoms can be mild and overlap with other less severe conditions,’ says Dr Ahmed El-Modir, consultant oncologist at Spire Little Aston Hospital (spirehealthcare.com). ‘And this can lead to individuals not seeking help soon enough.’
Seeking help early is key, as the prognosis is often better if cancer is caught before it reaches an advanced stage. Here are six silent cancers and the symptoms to look out for.
Bowel cancer
SILENT SYMPTOMS
Persistent abdominal pain, bloating, cramps and changes in your bowel habits (e.g. constipation, diarrhoea or thinner stools). ‘You may also notice blood in your stools, have the urge to open your bowels (even after recently passing stools), and unintentionally lose weight,’ says Dr El-Modir.
KNOW YOUR RISK
Nine out of ten cases of bowel cancer occur in those over 60, making age the biggest risk factor. Risk is also increased if we have a close family member (parent or sibling) who’s had bowel cancer before the age of 50.
Lifestyle factors that increase the risk include smoking, heavy drinking, a sedentary lifestyle, being overweight, and following a diet low in fibre and high in processed or red meat.
TAKE ACTION Reduce the number of processed foods in your day-to-day diet.
Cervical cancer
SILENT SYMPTOMS
Cervical cancer is cancer that occurs at the entrance of the womb (the cervix).
‘Silent’ symptoms include vaginal bleeding in between your periods, during or after sex and after menopause, heavier periods, changes to vaginal discharge, pain during sex, and pain in the lower back, lower abdomen and pelvic area.
KNOW YOUR RISK
‘Almost all cases are caused by the sexually transmitted infection human papillomavirus (HPV),’ explains Dr El-Modir. ‘Consequently, in the UK, all women over the age of 25 are offered regular cervical screening to test for HPV infection.’ The HPV vaccine also reduces the risk of cervical cancer. ‘Cervical cancer is more common in those aged under 45 and those with a weakened immune system – for example, due to HIV or AIDS. Our risk of cervical cancer is also higher if we’ve given birth to children before the age of 17, had multiple births, or previously had bladder, kidney, vaginal or vulval cancer.’
TAKE ACTION
Book in your next cervical smear test.
Liver cancer
SILENT SYMPTOMS
‘Many symptoms of liver cancer relate to digestion issues, such as nausea,
