We don’t expect you to know every detail about every cancer, but knowing the key symptoms of common cancers can make a huge difference.

Changes in the body are the best indicator of something not being right. The best guide is whether they feel ‘normal’ compared to what someone is used to.

Some of the symptoms of common cancers include

• A persistent cough which lasts for longer than three weeks
• A change in bowel movements that last for longer than four to six weeks
• Any unusual lumps
• Difficulty in passing urine
• Unexplained weight loss
• Changes to moles or freckles
• A white or red patch in the mouth which doesn’t heal within three weeks
• Unexplained pain
• Feeling very tired all of the time

Talking about cancer makes a big difference. We know that when people feel more comfortable discussing cancer, they are more likely to seek help when it’s needed.

There are over 200 different types of cancers. The toolkit contains some of the most common. As the toolkit develops, we hope to add more cancers to provide a comprehensive resource for you. We have also included sections on the National NHS Screening Programmes and on cancer prevention.