DON’T DELAY, BOOK IN TODAY

GP appointments may be harder to get than ever, but it doesn’t mean you should put off picking up the phone and getting booked in. Almost half of those who experienced a ‘red flag’ cancer symptom, including coughing up blood and a new or unusual lump, did not contact their GP within six months, according to a Yougov survey for Cancer Research UK.

The earlier you are assessed, the better. For example, when bowel cancer is diagnosed at stage one, more than nine in 10 people will survive it for five years or more, compared with one in 10 when diagnosed at stage four, the latest stage. Look out for a change in bowel habits or blood in your poo. Red flags for other cancers include abnormal moles or areas of skin or bloating for three weeks or more. The full list can be found at cancerresearchuk.org.

Once suspected cancer patients have seen their GP, waiting lists for cancer specialists can be months long, so don’t delay that first appointment.