Half of UK adults with a possible cancer symptom fail to contact their GP within six months, despite noticing changes to their body, research suggests.
Just 48% of people who had experienced a ‘red flag’ symptom of cancer contacted their doctor within half a year, according to a YouGov poll of 2,468 adults for Cancer Research UK.
The charity warns that not telling a GP about unusual health changes or symptoms reduces the chances of an early cancer diagnosis, which could lead to potentially devastating outcomes.
More than nine in 10 (92%) of patients who are diagnosed with bowel cancer at stage one (the earliest stage), for example, will survive for five years or more. By comparison, only one in 10 (10%) survive when diagnosed at stage four (the latest stage).
The survey also found that patients from higher socioeconomic backgrounds were more likely to be successful in making an appointment (81%), compared with those from a lower socioeconomic group (74%).
After an appointment, those from a lower socioeconomic background were less likely (48%) to go back to their GP if a possible cancer symptom did not go away than those from a higher socioeconomic background (60%).
Early diagnosis makes treatment more effective and therefore improves chances of survival. However, people from poorer backgrounds are more likely to be diagnosed via an emergency route which results in worse experiences of treatment and poorer survival rates, experts say.
Every year, 30,000 extra cases of cancer in the UK are attributable to socioeconomic deprivation, according to Cancer Research UK.
Help-seeking expert for Cancer Research UK Professor Katriina Whitaker said: “People from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are more likely to face barriers at every stage of cancer care. But the first step of getting to the doctor can seem like the hardest.
“Help-seeking is a huge hurdle for many people with cancer symptoms to overcome. It’s not only about knowledge of symptoms, but also social support, where you live, occupation and access to information.”
If you have been experiencing any unusual or worrying symptoms and are concerned it could be cancer, you should seek advice from your GP as soon as possible.
If you are unsure what symptoms to look for, these are nine red flag cancer symptoms that you should not ignore.
The charity warns that not telling a GP about unusual health changes or symptoms reduces the chances of an early cancer diagnosis, which could lead to potentially devastating outcomes.
5. Unexplained weight loss
If you unintentionally lose a lot of weight and this cannot be explained by changes to your diet, exercise, or stress level, this could be a sign of something serious. If your weight loss was not caused by dieting or exercising, you should see your GP as it may be an indication of an illness that needs treating.
6. Coughing up blood
Coughing up blood can be caused by various things, including a long-lasting or severe cough, a lung or airway infection, such as a chest infection, pneumonia or bronchitis, or a problem with your airways that causes them to widen and produce more mucus. It could also be a sign of something more serious like a blood clot or lung cancer.
7. A new or unusual lump
Lumps can appear anywhere on the body and most are harmless, but it is important to see a GP if it is still there after two weeks. You should also see your doctor if a lump gets bigger, is painful, red or hot, is hard and does not move, and if it grows back after being removed. The NHS also advises seeing a GP if you notice a lump in your breast or testicles, or if you have a swelling on the side of your neck, armpit or groin that does not go down.
8. Coughing, chest pain and breathlessness
Coughing, chest pain and breathlessness can be a sign of many other health conditions, including Covid, asthma and pneumonia, but in some cases symptoms may be caused by cancer. If you have a cough for three weeks or more, you should contact your GP for a check-up.