Get cancer symptoms checked by your GP | NHS - BSL version

What are the common signs of cancer?

Cancer can make people feel very sick. Here are some signs to watch out for:

• Losing weight without trying
• Feeling very tired all the time
• Having a pain that does not go away
• Finding a lump or bump in your body
• Noticing changes in your skin or a mole
• Having a cough that does not go away

If you notice any of these signs, it is important to talk to a doctor. They can help you find out what is wrong.

You can use tools like pictures, videos, or ask someone to help you understand better.

When should I see a doctor about signs of cancer?

If you notice something different or unusual about your body, it's important to talk to a doctor. Here’s when to see a doctor:

• If something is bothering you and doesn't feel right.
• If you notice changes in your body that last for a few weeks.
• If you have a lump, bump, or swelling that you are worried about.
• If you have pain that won’t go away.
• If you have a cough that doesn’t go away.

These might be signs that you should talk to a doctor. Doctors can help you find out what’s happening with your body. Don’t wait too long to ask for help.

Try to keep notes about how you feel. You can also ask someone you trust to help you talk to the doctor.

How do I see my doctor if I think I might have cancer?

If you feel sick or notice changes in your body, it is important to see a doctor. You can do this by booking an appointment with your GP. Here is how you can do it:

1. Call your doctor’s office: Use the phone to call your GP's office and ask for an appointment. Tell them you need to see the doctor because you are worried about cancer.
2. Book online: Some doctor's offices let you book an appointment on their website. Ask someone to help you if you find it tricky.
3. Ask for help: If booking an appointment is hard, ask a family member or friend to help you. They can call or go online for you.

Tools that can help:

• Telephone assistance: Some phones have voice assistants that can help you make calls.
• Website reading tools: Use tools that read websites out loud to you.

Remember, it is good to talk to a doctor if something feels wrong. They are there to help you.

Can I book a doctor appointment if I'm worried about a lump?

Yes, you can see a doctor if you find a lump on your body. Here’s what you can do:

• Ask a family member or friend to help you call the doctor's office.
• Write down what you want to say before you call.
• Use a calendar to mark the date and time of your appointment.
• Bring a notebook to write down what the doctor says.

It’s important to talk to a doctor if you are worried. They can help you understand what to do next.

What happens at a doctor's appointment if you think you might have cancer?

If you think you might have cancer and go to see your doctor, here is what to expect:

• The doctor will ask you about how you are feeling.
• They will want to know about any symptoms you have, like if you've been feeling sick or if you have a lump.
• The doctor may check your body to see how you are doing.
• Sometimes, the doctor might ask you to have some tests, like a blood test or a scan, to get more information.
• You can ask the doctor any questions if you don't understand something.
• If you find it hard to remember things, you could take someone with you or write down what the doctor says.

Don't be afraid to talk to the doctor. They are there to help you.

Is it free to get tested and find out if you have cancer in the UK?

In the UK, health care is often free with the NHS. This includes tests and checks for cancer. If you are worried about cancer, you can talk to your doctor. They might suggest tests to check for cancer. You will not have to pay for these tests.

If you find it hard to understand health information, you can:

• Ask a family member or friend to explain.
• Use simple websites that explain health topics.
• Talk to your doctor or nurse, and ask them to use easy words.

What can I do if I can't see the doctor right away?

Can I see a doctor if I find a lump on my body?

If you find a lump on your body, you can visit a doctor. Seeing a doctor is a good idea because they can help check if the lump is okay.

Tip: Ask someone you trust to go with you if you feel worried. You can also write down questions you want to ask the doctor before you go.

Why is it important to find cancer early?

What does a doctor do if they think it might be cancer?

A GP is a doctor you see when you feel unwell. If they think you might have cancer, they can do some things to help:

• Ask you more questions about how you feel.
• Do some tests to learn more.
• Send you to see a specialist doctor.

It’s good to talk with your GP if anything worries you. You can also take a family member or friend to your appointments for support. Writing down your questions before visiting the doctor can be helpful, too.

Can I get help if the doctor says I have cancer?

If the doctor tells you that you have cancer, there are people who can help you.

Here's how they can help:

• You can talk to a nurse or doctor.
• You can join support groups where you meet other people with cancer.
• Friends and family can also help you feel better.

These people will be there to help and support you.

Do different types of cancer have different signs?

Getting Ready for a Doctor's Visit About Cancer Signs

Are you going to see your doctor because you might have cancer signs? Here is how you can get ready:

1. Make a List: Write down all the signs and symptoms you have. This means anything unusual or that makes you feel different.
2. Bring a Friend: Ask someone you trust to come with you. They can help remember what the doctor says.
3. Write Questions: Think of questions you want to ask the doctor and write them down. This helps you remember everything you want to know.
4. Use Tools: If reading is hard, ask for help or use tools like picture books or simple word lists.
5. Relax: Take deep breaths and try to stay calm. The doctor is there to help you.

These steps can make your visit easier and help you talk with the doctor.

Can I take someone with me to the doctor?

Yes, you can bring someone with you. This can be a friend, family member, or helper. They can support you and help you remember information.

Tools that might help you:

• Write down questions to ask the doctor.
• Bring a notebook to write down what the doctor says.
• Use a calendar to remember your appointment date and time.

When will I know my test results if the doctor thinks it might be cancer?

If the doctor thinks you might have cancer and you have a test, you might feel worried. It’s natural to want to know the results quickly.

It can take a few days or sometimes a couple of weeks to get your results. The doctor or nurse will tell you when you will find out.

If you feel nervous, it can help to talk to someone you trust, like a friend or a family member.

You can also ask the doctor or nurse to explain anything you don’t understand.

What are the common signs of cancer?

Cancer can make people feel very sick. Here are some signs to watch out for:

• Losing weight without trying
• Feeling very tired all the time
• Having a pain that does not go away
• Finding a lump or bump in your body
• Noticing changes in your skin or a mole
• Having a cough that does not go away

If you notice any of these signs, it is important to talk to a doctor. They can help you find out what is wrong.

You can use tools like pictures, videos, or ask someone to help you understand better.

When should I see a doctor about signs of cancer?

If you notice something different or unusual about your body, it's important to talk to a doctor. Here’s when to see a doctor:

• If something is bothering you and doesn't feel right.
• If you notice changes in your body that last for a few weeks.
• If you have a lump, bump, or swelling that you are worried about.
• If you have pain that won’t go away.
• If you have a cough that doesn’t go away.

These might be signs that you should talk to a doctor. Doctors can help you find out what’s happening with your body. Don’t wait too long to ask for help.

Try to keep notes about how you feel. You can also ask someone you trust to help you talk to the doctor.

How do I see my doctor if I think I might have cancer?

If you feel sick or notice changes in your body, it is important to see a doctor. You can do this by booking an appointment with your GP. Here is how you can do it:

1. Call your doctor’s office: Use the phone to call your GP's office and ask for an appointment. Tell them you need to see the doctor because you are worried about cancer.
2. Book online: Some doctor's offices let you book an appointment on their website. Ask someone to help you if you find it tricky.
3. Ask for help: If booking an appointment is hard, ask a family member or friend to help you. They can call or go online for you.

Tools that can help:

• Telephone assistance: Some phones have voice assistants that can help you make calls.
• Website reading tools: Use tools that read websites out loud to you.

Remember, it is good to talk to a doctor if something feels wrong. They are there to help you.

Can I book a doctor appointment if I'm worried about a lump?

Yes, you can see a doctor if you find a lump on your body. Here’s what you can do:

• Ask a family member or friend to help you call the doctor's office.
• Write down what you want to say before you call.
• Use a calendar to mark the date and time of your appointment.
• Bring a notebook to write down what the doctor says.

It’s important to talk to a doctor if you are worried. They can help you understand what to do next.

What happens at a doctor's appointment if you think you might have cancer?

If you think you might have cancer and go to see your doctor, here is what to expect:

• The doctor will ask you about how you are feeling.
• They will want to know about any symptoms you have, like if you've been feeling sick or if you have a lump.
• The doctor may check your body to see how you are doing.
• Sometimes, the doctor might ask you to have some tests, like a blood test or a scan, to get more information.
• You can ask the doctor any questions if you don't understand something.
• If you find it hard to remember things, you could take someone with you or write down what the doctor says.

Don't be afraid to talk to the doctor. They are there to help you.

Is it free to get tested and find out if you have cancer in the UK?

In the UK, health care is often free with the NHS. This includes tests and checks for cancer. If you are worried about cancer, you can talk to your doctor. They might suggest tests to check for cancer. You will not have to pay for these tests.

If you find it hard to understand health information, you can:

• Ask a family member or friend to explain.
• Use simple websites that explain health topics.
• Talk to your doctor or nurse, and ask them to use easy words.

What can I do if I can't see the doctor right away?

Can I see a doctor if I find a lump on my body?

If you find a lump on your body, you can visit a doctor. Seeing a doctor is a good idea because they can help check if the lump is okay.

Tip: Ask someone you trust to go with you if you feel worried. You can also write down questions you want to ask the doctor before you go.

Why is it important to find cancer early?

What does a doctor do if they think it might be cancer?

A GP is a doctor you see when you feel unwell. If they think you might have cancer, they can do some things to help:

• Ask you more questions about how you feel.
• Do some tests to learn more.
• Send you to see a specialist doctor.

It’s good to talk with your GP if anything worries you. You can also take a family member or friend to your appointments for support. Writing down your questions before visiting the doctor can be helpful, too.

Can I get help if the doctor says I have cancer?

If the doctor tells you that you have cancer, there are people who can help you.

Here's how they can help:

• You can talk to a nurse or doctor.
• You can join support groups where you meet other people with cancer.
• Friends and family can also help you feel better.

These people will be there to help and support you.

Do different types of cancer have different signs?

Getting Ready for a Doctor's Visit About Cancer Signs

Are you going to see your doctor because you might have cancer signs? Here is how you can get ready:

1. Make a List: Write down all the signs and symptoms you have. This means anything unusual or that makes you feel different.
2. Bring a Friend: Ask someone you trust to come with you. They can help remember what the doctor says.
3. Write Questions: Think of questions you want to ask the doctor and write them down. This helps you remember everything you want to know.
4. Use Tools: If reading is hard, ask for help or use tools like picture books or simple word lists.
5. Relax: Take deep breaths and try to stay calm. The doctor is there to help you.

These steps can make your visit easier and help you talk with the doctor.

Can I take someone with me to the doctor?

Yes, you can bring someone with you. This can be a friend, family member, or helper. They can support you and help you remember information.

Tools that might help you:

• Write down questions to ask the doctor.
• Bring a notebook to write down what the doctor says.
• Use a calendar to remember your appointment date and time.

When will I know my test results if the doctor thinks it might be cancer?

If the doctor thinks you might have cancer and you have a test, you might feel worried. It’s natural to want to know the results quickly.

It can take a few days or sometimes a couple of weeks to get your results. The doctor or nurse will tell you when you will find out.

If you feel nervous, it can help to talk to someone you trust, like a friend or a family member.

You can also ask the doctor or nurse to explain anything you don’t understand.