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Daily Record
Daily Record
Lifestyle
Nicola Roy & Alan Johnson

'Most common' cancer symptom that gets worse at night, according to doctor

A GP has warned people about one of the "most common" cancer symptoms that you should never ignore, and it appears before you fall asleep at night.

There are so many different types of cancer to look out for, so it helps to make yourself aware of the signs in order to spot any problems when they arise. Some are more obvious than others, as they cause lumps or bleeding in your body. But one expert says that a common symptom is often overlooked, and people should get checked out if they've been experiencing it for three weeks or more.

Doctor Deborah Lee, from Dr Fox Online Pharmacy, says pain is one of the most common cancer symptoms that can appear at night time, reports the Mirror.

And according to Cancer Research UK, around 38 per cent of all cancer patients will experience moderate to severe pain when trying to sleep.

Pain can be caused by many different conditions, but Dr Lee says there are a few telltale signs that it may be cancerous.

She said: "One of the signs that pain may be due to cancer is pain that is worse at night, as well as pain that is not related to trauma.

"There may be other symptoms such as loss of appetite, weight loss, malaise, tiredness and fatigue, nausea and vomiting, or fever."

Cancerous pain can often be more noticeable at night, according to the expert (Getty Images/Tetra images RF)

Dr Lee also explained why cancerous pain is often more obvious at night.

"When you lie down, this changes the weight distribution of the tumour and surrounding tissues, [potentially causing pain]," she said.

The medical expert urges people to make an appointment with their GP if they've had unexplained pain in their body for three weeks or more, just to be safe.

"It may well have an innocent explanation, but you need to have a proper assessment," she added.

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