HOW TO STAY SAFE

The NHS is urging people still to get checked out by a professional if they have any cancer symptoms. Speak to your GP if you notice any of the following:

● Unexplained bleeding in your urine, faeces, spit or vomit. For women, it also includes vaginal bleeding in between periods or after sex.

● Unexplained lumps or swellings anywhere on your body. It can help your GP to tell them how long it has been there and if it is getting bigger or causes discomfort.

● Extreme tiredness – if you’ve been feeling more tired than usual with no obvious reason.

● Weight loss – if you have lost weight without trying to and it cannot be explained by changes in your diet or exercise.

● If you have a mole that has changed in size, shape or colour, or it has started to bleed, itch or crust, it could be a warning sign of a melanoma.

● Examine your breasts for lumps at least once a month. The best time is a few days after your period ends. Feel beneath the nipple for any changes. Gently press the nipple inward – it should move easily. Don’t forget to check the upper, outer area of the breast, near to the armpit. Contact your GP if you find an area that is different from any other area on either breast, a change in the size or shape of the breast, a mass or lump, bloody or clear fluid discharge from the nipples, or redness of the skin on the breast or nipple.

● For more information, go to Nhs.uk/conditions/cancer or Macmillan.org.uk or Coppafeel.org