The 6 surprising signs of deadly cancer you don’t know... - The Sun

CANCER is a devastating illness and one in two of us could get cancer in our lifetime.

Many cancers are treatable if they are caught early so it's important that you know the key signs to look out for.

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Lung cancer is a deadly condition so it's important that you know all of the key signsCredit: Getty

Lung cancer is one of the most deadly cancers in the UK and can spread faster than other cancers to different parts of the body.

It's because of this that lung cancer is sometimes only detected once it has made its way to other areas.

Lung cancer can be difficult to spot, especially in the early stages, so it's important that you know the signs.

The NHS says that symptoms of lung cancer can progress as the illness, does, meaning they will become more visible.

You might think you will only experience pain in your lungs or chest if you have lung cancer, but that's not always the case.

Here are the six signs you need to watch out for.

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1. Coughing

It's important to note that a new persistent cough could be Covid-19 so it's always key to do a test just to be on the safe side.

Usually a cough associated with lung cancer will be a lingering one which hasn't shifted between two and three weeks, the NHS says.

If this long standing cough gets worse then this could also be a sign of lung cancer so it's important that you visit your GP.

2. Chest infection

It's the time of year that many people experience chest infections, so it might not always be cause for concern.

But if you have chest infections that keep coming back then this could be a sign of lung cancer.

3. Pain

The NHS says that if you experience pain while breathing or coughing then this could be lung cancer.

It also highlights that a lesser known sign of lung cancer is pain specifically in the arm or shoulder.

This is because if you have a tumour at the top of the lung then it could be causing pressure on the arm or shoulder.

Persistent pain is also a sign, the NHS states.

The red flags of cancer that you need to know

Different cancer will have different signs but there are some symptoms that are common in most cancers.

1. Unexplained weight loss: Losing more than 10lbs without trying could be one of the first signs of cancers of the pancreas, stomach, oesophagus, or lungs.
2. Unusual swelling or lumps: Persistent lumps or swelling in any part of your body should be taken seriously.
3. Coughing: A persistent cough is not just a sign of Covid-19 - it could also be a symptom of cancer, especially if it doesn't disappear after three or four weeks.
4. Mole changes: You need to be on the lookout for any new moles or any changes in the size, shape or colour of existing ones.
5. Blood in your poo or pee: Blood in your poo is one of the red-flag warning signs of bowel cancer - the second deadliest cancer in the UK.
6. Pee changes: Dribbling, leaking, a desperate urge or waking up busting in the night, pain when you pee and struggling to pee all should ring alarm bells.
7. Unexplained pain: If you have pain lasting longer than four weeks, unexplained pain, or pain that comes and goes - this is a key red-flag warning sign.
8. Difficult swallowing: If you're regularly suffering bouts of painful heartburn, or heartburn that doesn't seem to go away, it's important to get checked out
9. Heavy night sweats: The most common type of cancer associated with night sweats is lymphoma.
10. Heartburn: If you feel as though food constantly keeps getting stuck when you're eating and it's sometimes uncomfortable or painful to swallow - you should get in touch with your GP.

4. Finger clubbing

Changes in the appearance of your fingers, such as becoming more curved or their ends becoming larger, could be a sign of lung cancer, the NHS says.

In this case your fingers can become swollen because of a lack of oxygen.

5. Swollen face

If you're experiencing an unexplained swelling of the neck or face then this could be lung cancer.

Sometimes tumours press against the head, which in turn causes swelling.

6. Hormonal symptoms

While these are rare, Cancer Research UK states that some types of lung cancer cells produce hormones that go into the bloodstream.

They explain: "These hormones can cause symptoms that don't seem related to the lung cancer. Doctors call them paraneoplastic syndrome."

Some of these symptoms are included above but people with hormonal signs could have pins and needles or numbness in the fingers or toes, muscle weakness, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness and confusion, breast swelling in men and blood clots.

Other symptoms of lung cancer that you should look out for include coughing up blood, breathlessness, persistent tiredness and unexplained weight loss or a loss of appetite.

Symptoms that are less common include pain when swallowing, wheezing and a horse voice.

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The graph above shows the key signs of cancer that you need to look out for

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