Cancer is a disease that can start almost anywhere in the body and affects all ages.
The risk factors for cancer are multifactorial, meaning there is no one-size-fits-all approach to prevention.
Prostate cancer continues to be the most common diagnosed in males, with 41,201 cases diagnosed in 2017, which accounted for one in four (26.3%) male cancer diagnoses.
Lung, colorectal cancer and melanoma of the skin remain common cancers for both men and women.
Dr Luke Pratsides from Numan spoke exclusively with the Mirror to offer his insight into unusual signs that could warn of different types of cancer.
According to Dr Pratsides, these are:
- Yellowing of the eyes or skin known as jaundice could be a sign of liver or pancreatic cancer. According to Dr Pratsides the yellowing often starts in the eyes and then spreads to the skin.
- Dark spot on the iris of the eye could be a sign of eye cancer.
“Some people are born with or develop freckles in their eyes which can become cancerous,” he warns.
“Any changes to the shape or size of the spot should be closely monitored and checked by a doctor.”
- A black line on you toe or finger nail could be a sign of melanoma or skin cancer.
“A black line which is different to a bruise could be a sign of nail melanoma,” Dr Pratsides adds.
- Night sweats described as “severe” could be a symptom of all types of cancers.
- Difficulty swallowing or constantly feeling full can be a sign of oesophageal cancer.
- Sudden unexplained weight loss is a sign of many types of cancer.
- Bleeding from the vagina after menopause is a symptom of endometrial cancer.
- Peau d’orange of the breast is a lesser-known sign of breast cancer.
Dr Pratsides explains: “This is where the skin overlying a women’s breast develops small dimples, resembling orange peel.
“In addition, the nipple can be inverted.”
How is cancer formed?
Cancer is caused by harmful changes in genes.
It’s estimated that around five to 10% of cancers are caused by harmful mutations that are inherited from a person’s parents.
“In families with an inherited cancer-causing mutation, multiple family members will often develop the same type of cancer,” says the National Cancer Institute.
“These cancers are called ‘familial’ or ‘hereditary’ cancers."
The other 90 to 95% of cancers are caused by mutations that happen during a person’s lifetime, which includes ageing, smoking, radiation or other environmental factors.
More and more studies are also uncovering how the foods you eat could be increasing cancer risk.
Meat, for example, has become far more processed over the years, possibly adding to the high cancer cases.
These types of meat include bacon, sausages, hot dogs and deli hams.
