I am worried I have cancer

If you are worried about any changes in your body, it's important to get these checked out by your GP. If you have any of the symptoms below, especially if they last for a while or you can't explain them, you should make an appointment with your doctor.

Common symptoms

• Pain, that doesn't go away quickly when you take painkillers
• A lump or swelling anywhere on your body
• Unexplained weight loss
• Tiredness
• Headaches or dizziness that won't go away
• Changes to moles - for example changes in size or colour, or if they start bleeding
• Changes to bowel habits (going to the toilet) that last for more than a few weeks
• Unexplained bruising
• Breathlessness
• Symptoms that refuse to clear up, e.g. a cough or hoarseness that last for more than three weeks
• Sweating a lot at night
• Unexplained bleeding - for example coughing up blood, blood in your urine or poo, bleeding after sex, between periods or blood in your vomit if you are sick

Common cancers

The most common cancer in young men aged 15-24 is testicular cancer, followed by Hodgkin's lymphoma and leukaemia. The most common cancers in young women aged 15-24 are melanoma, Hodgkin's lymphoma and ovarian cancer.

If you have any signs or symptoms that might be cancer, it's important to make an appointment with your GP as soon as possible. Your appointment might be in-person or over the phone/by video call.

• If it turns out not to be cancer, you haven’t wasted anyone’s time. You’ll still be listened to and taken seriously.
• If it does turn out to be cancer, then getting diagnosed early is really important, as early treatment will improve the outcome. 

It's normal to feel nervous about speaking to your doctor. Use the list below to help you.

• Write down what you want to say and ask beforehand
• Make a note of your symptoms and when you started to feel unwell
• Share as much information as possible – little details can make a big difference
• Take a friend or someone from your family with you
• Be open and honest – remember that doctors talk to people about all kinds of problems all day, every day
• Ask your doctor to repeat anything you don’t understand
• Make sure you know what will happen next before you leave

Getting diagnosed with cancer

Diagnosis means finding out whether you have cancer and, if so, what type of cancer you have. Doctors will do this by assessing you, and your symptoms, and by doing tests.

If you have symptoms that could be caused by cancer, you will be referred by your GP or local hospital to a specialist doctor in teenager and young adult cancer.