Most People Dismiss Early Signs of Cancer: PLOS ONE Study

People could be putting their lives at risk by dismissing potential warning signs of cancer as less serious symptoms, according to a Cancer Research UK-funded study published in PLOS ONE.

More than half (53%) of 1700 people who completed a health questionnaire said they had experienced at least one red-flag cancer "alarm" symptom during the previous 3 months. But only 2% of them thought that cancer was a possible cause.

Researchers sent the questionnaire listing 17 symptoms—including 10 widely-publicized potential cancer warning signs, such as an unexplained cough, bleeding, and a persistent change in bowel or bladder habits—to people, aged 50 and over, registered with 3 London general practices.

Cancer was not mentioned, but they were asked which of the symptoms they had experienced, what they thought caused them, if they were concerned that symptoms were serious and whether they had consulted their general practitioner.

Link to the report on Science Daily: http://bit.ly/15OOBKJ