Vital signs to BEAT CANCER

Get to know what's normal for you - spotting changes can lead to early detection that saves your life

- KAREN EVENNETT

We're all so busy, busy, busy these days... Too busy by far, in fact, to do ourselves the fundamental favour of checking in with our bodies. Now a new NHS survey of 2,000 Brits has found that only four in 10 (39%) of us look for body changes at least once every three weeks — despite this being vital in spotting potential signs of cancer. The results found that we’re more likely to regularly check our bank balance (80%), the weather forecast (70%), sport results (42%) or the TV guide (41%).

But it's something we should all be doing routinely, says Professor Peter Johnson, national NHS cancer director. 'If you do spot something worrying, get in touch with your GP surgery, who can investigate for you. It's unlikely to be cancer, but if there is something wrong, the earlier it is found, the better the chance of treatment being successful.'

The most important thing is to know what is normal for you - that way, any changes will be obvious. Don’t miss these cancer red flags.

A lingering mouth ulcer

A mouth ulcer that hasn't healed after three weeks is one of the biggest red flags for oral cancer, says Caitlin Miller, head of dental hygiene and therapy at Bupa Dental Care. 'Other signs to be aware of include an ulcer that's bigger than usual, or an unusual shape or colour, or that's painful, bleeds, or sits at the back of your throat.

'You should also be alert to difficulty swallowing that doesn't go away, red or white patches in your mouth, loose teeth without a clear reason, and any unexplained bleeding or numbness.