Credit: NIH
People could be putting their lives at risk by dismissing potential warning signs of cancer as less serious symptoms, according to a study published in PLOS ONE.
In a survey of about 1700 people, more than half of respondents said they had experienced at least
one red-flag cancer “alarm” symptom—such as persistent, unexplained pain or an unexplained lump—during the previous 3 months, but
only 2% of them thought cancer was a possible cause.
The survey had been sent to people aged 50 and older who were registered with 3 London general practices. The questionnaire listed 17 symptoms, including 10 widely publicized potential cancer warning signs, such as an unexplained cough, bleeding, and a persistent change in bowel or bladder habits.
Cancer was not mentioned, but the survey asked which of the symptoms subjects had experienced, what they thought caused them, if they were concerned that symptoms were serious, and whether they had consulted their doctor.
Of the 1724 subjects who responded, 53% had experienced at least one cancer “alarm” symptom in the previous 3 months.
This included unexplained cough or hoarseness; persistent change in bowel habits; persistent, unexplained pain; persistent change in bladder habits; unexplained lump; a change in the appearance of a mole; a sore that does not heal; unexplained bleeding; unexplained weight loss; and persistent difficulty swallowing.
Persistent cough (20%) and persistent change in bowel habits (18%) were the most common symptoms. Difficulty swallowing and unexplained weight loss (both 4%) were least common.
Overall, subjects appraised the cancer warning “alarm” symptoms as more serious than “non-alarm” symptoms, such as sore throat and feeling tired. Fifty-nine percent of respondents said they contacted a doctor about their “alarm” symptoms.
However, subjects rarely attributed potential signs of cancer to the disease, putting them down to other reasons, such as age, infection, arthritis, piles, and cysts.
“Most people with potential warning symptoms don’t have cancer, but some will, and others may have other diseases that would benefit from early attention,” said study author Katriina Whitaker, PhD, of University College London in the UK.
“That’s why it’s important that these symptoms are checked out, especially if they don’t go away. But people could delay seeing a doctor if they don’t acknowledge cancer as a possible cause. It’s worrying that even the more obvious warning symptoms, such as unexplained lumps or changes to the appearance of a mole, were rarely attributed to cancer, although they are often well recognized in surveys that assess the public’s knowledge of the disease.”
“Even when people thought warning symptoms might be serious, cancer didn’t tend to spring to mind. This might be because people were frightened and reluctant to mention cancer, thought cancer wouldn’t happen to them, or believed other causes were more likely.”
