Cancer symptoms are often overlooked because they are too subtle or resemble those of other conditions. But they're the body's way of signalling something is wrong.
A medical professional who has spent more than two decades treating patients with the disease has now shared an important message about five symptoms that should never be ignored.
Oncologist Dr Yousuf Zafar wants people to recognise that certain symptoms might indicate something serious is underway, as he explained on TikTok as @dryousufzafa.
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Dr Zafar noted that many symptoms turn out to be nothing serious
|TIKTOK / @DR.YOUSUFZAFAR
The first red flag highlighted was dropping weight without intention. He shared: "If you drop 10 pounds, for example, without trying, and nothing else explains it, consider that a red flag."
New growths or lumps that appear and stick around need attention, too.
Dr Zafar noted that many turn out to be nothing serious, but any bump that keeps growing shouldn't be ignored.
The same goes for skin marks that darken, develop uneven edges, or change their appearance.
When everyday ailments won't shift, that's another concern. A persistent cough, ongoing sore throat, or voice changes lasting several weeks all warrant a doctor's visit.
Bleeding where it shouldn't happen, including coughing up blood, is the fourth warning sign.
The fifth sign involves ongoing changes that can't be explained. Whether it's different bowel habits or feeling tired all the time, these persistent shifts need investigating.
The doctor noted that experiencing these symptoms doesn't automatically mean cancer, but he warned that "ignoring them can cost you time" - a crucial reminder about the importance of early detection.
After two decades of treating cancer patients, the medical worker knows that catching problems early can make an enormous difference to outcomes.
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Changes in bowel movements that persist require medical attention
|GETTY
It comes as a recent body of research revealed troubling gaps in public understanding of cancer symptoms after it transpired that a large number of respondents couldn't identify crucial warning signs of the disease.
The study, conducted in Jordan, highlighted prominent concern around signs that could signal serious conditions, with recognition rates varying depending on the warning signs.
Researchers noted: "The symptom 'unexplained weight loss' was most commonly recognised (66.3 per cent) and 'persistent difficulty swallowing' the least (42.6 per cent)."
They added: "As for risk factors, 'smoking' was the most identified (76.9 per cent) and 'eating less than 5 portions of fruits and vegetables a day' was the least (19 per cent), and 'doing <30 minutes of moderate physical activity 5 times a week' as a close second least (19.95 percent)."