While cancer symptoms are often absent in the initial stages, this is when detection offers the best survival chances.
In many cases, it's only in hindsight that patients recognise the signs they once overlooked.
A British man who battled blood cancer in his twenties has taken to social media to share the early warning signs that preceded his diagnosis.
Dan, who was diagnosed with MDS - a form of blood cancer - at age 28, now uses his platform to help others recognise potential symptoms.
Dan, who was diagnosed with MDS at age 28
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"I was diagnosed with cancer at 28 and had 3 symptoms early on," he recently told viewers on his social media account (danscancerjourney).
Now 31, Dan has undergone extensive treatment including chemotherapy and a transplant.
He's currently focused on rebuilding his life whilst sharing his experience to raise awareness about the subtle signs many patients ignore.
The first warning sign Dan experienced was an overwhelming fatigue, unlike typical exhaustion.
"The fatigue for me was where I would be just doing something, feel fine, and then all of a sudden just conk out," he explained.
This wasn't simply feeling tired after exertion. Dan described how minimal activities would trigger sudden, debilitating exhaustion.
"It would literally be on the sofa, after going for a 10-minute walk, and I would need to sleep for about six to eight hours," he recalled. The fatigue would strike without warning, forcing him into extended periods of sleep after the briefest physical activity.
Dan's second symptom involved an unusually severe response to common illnesses. "If someone was ill, I would just stare at them and I'd have it. But not only have I, I'd have it 10 times worse," he shared.
While others might experience mild symptoms like sneezing and a runny nose, Dan would be incapacitated for fortnightly periods.
The third warning sign appeared on his skin, with Dan describing it as "a bit weird.
He explained: "I would have random red dots over my skin and that would develop into an arm full of bruises."
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Dan noticed cancer symptoms on his skin
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These mysterious red spots would emerge without explanation before transforming into extensive bruising across his arms.
Blood cancer affects approximately 40,000 people annually in the UK, making it one of the nation's more prevalent cancer types.
The disease often causes platelet deficiency, disrupting the body's natural clotting mechanisms. This deficiency explains why unexplained bruising, like Dan experienced, can serve as a warning sign.
Dan emphasised the importance of seeking medical advice whilst acknowledging most people with these symptoms won't have cancer. "If you have these symptoms, the chances are it's nothing serious, but if you are at all concerned, then obviously speak to your GP," he advised.
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