Ratification Date: 23/07/2025

Next Review Date: 23/07/2027

I’m worried I may have cancer

Signs and symptoms of cancer
Checking for cancer
Getting help
Get Support

Signs and symptoms of cancer

If something does not feel right in your body, then it is vital that you get it checked out.

It can be scary when you notice something not quite right, but please do not put off making an appointment with your doctor. It may be nothing, but if it is cancer, the quicker it is picked up the more easily it can be treated.

The symptoms that you might notice could be ongoing symptoms, which last for more than three weeks; unexplained symptoms which have no reason, or symptoms that are unusual for you.

What kind of things should you be looking out for?

The NHS has a useful guide to some of the signs and symptoms.
Macmillan Cancer Support has information on how to recognise the symptoms of cancer and when you should see your GP.
Cancer Research UK has details on some of the key signs and symptoms.
This easy read booklet about signs and symptoms of cancer is useful.
Signs and symptoms booklets are also available in many languages: Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, Farsi, Guajarati, Hindi, Kurdish, Lithuanian, Nepali, Pashto, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Somali, Tagalog, Tigrinya, Traditional Chinese, Turkish, Urdu, Welsh, and Yoruba.

There is also information on the signs and symptoms of different types of cancer. But it is important to remember, that these are just a guide; if you are worried about a change in your body, please do get it checked out. It might be nothing.

Checking for cancer

There are steps that we can take to check ourselves for cancer.

Cancer Research UK has information on how you can check yourself for cancer.

There is information about how you can check different parts of your body for changes:

Learn how to check your breasts at Breast Cancer UK
Breast Cancer UK has a useful film that demonstrates how you can check your breasts.
Macmillan Cancer Support offers guidance on how to check your testicles.

Getting help

If you are worried about any signs or symptoms in your body, then it is vital that you get checked out.

So, what do you do?

Contact your GP Surgery

If you are worried about anything in your body, the first thing you need to do is contact your GP surgery. Watch Dianne’s story on her journey to getting checked by her GP.

Macmillan has a blog which offers help if you are struggling to get a GP appointment.

Ask for an appointment with your GP to assess your symptoms. After this appointment, your GP or nurse may refer you to the hospital to assess your worrying symptoms to rule out cancer. Expect the hospital to contact you in the next month. This may be a call with a nurse to discuss your worrying symptoms and or about attending the hospital for a diagnostic investigation, or for a one stop shop clinic.

Why have I been urgently referred to the hospital?

You have been referred to see a hospital doctor (specialist) or to have tests because your primary care clinician (doctor (GP), nurse, dentist, optician, or pharmacist) feels your symptoms need further investigation. This is to investigate your symptoms, find out what is wrong, and if it could be cancer. You can expect to be seen quickly. Whilst this does include the possibility of cancer, most people referred in this way do not have cancer. The signs and symptoms you have may be caused by a number of common illnesses, including suspected cancer. This is why this referral is urgent, and any appointments and tests will usually be completed within four weeks to give you an answer.

This does not mean you have cancer: more than 9 out of 10 people referred this way are not diagnosed with cancer.

The appointment

If you do have a hospital appointment, it is important that you attend this. Your appointment letter will include information about what will happen at the appointment, where you will go, and what tests – if any – will be carried out.

At the appointment, you may speak to a specialist or be sent for tests. The kind of tests you might have include an X-ray, a CT scan or an endoscopy.
Find out more about the tests that the NHS uses to check for cancer.

After the appointment

The doctor who orders your tests will explain your results. You may need to have further tests.

If you do not have cancer, it is important you continue to check your body.

If you do have cancer, there will be lots of support available for you. It will of course be a very worrying time, but you will not be alone: there will be people with help, support, and information available to you. The next steps will be explained to you.

Find out more:

Macmillan Cancer has information on rapid referral guidelines, including for different types of cancer.
Cancer Research UK has more information about your urgent suspected cancer referral.
The NHS has information on waiting times in England.

Referred on an urgent cancer pathway

You may have been referred on an urgent suspected cancer pathway and to see a hospital doctor (specialist) or to have tests because your symptoms need further investigation.

You can expect to be seen quickly; any appointments and tests will need to be completed within four weeks to give you an answer.

More than 9 out of 10 people who are referred in this way are found to not have cancer. However, for the small number of people who are, the earlier this is found and treated the better the results can be. Do not delay – please give this priority and attend the first appointment offered.

What will happen next?

Your referral will be sent to the hospital who will make the appointment for you. The hospital will contact you to arrange this. The hospital may also send you additional information relating to the appointment. This will include information about any medical tests you are likely to have on the day you attend.

What should I do now?

First: You should ensure that all your contact details, including mobile phone number and email address, are correct with your GP or dental practice. This appointment is important so you should do all you can to ensure you are available and can take the first appointment offered.
Then: You will get a letter or telephone call about your appointment.

If, within ten days you have not heard from the hospital, please call the booking team at the relevant contact number below:

James Paget University Hospitals – 01493 452135
Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals – 01603 286607
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Kings Lynn NHS Trust – 01553 613626

What will happen at the hospital?

When you have your hospital appointment you will usually see a specialist/consultant and have medical tests (e.g., a scan or x-ray etc.). You will be told in advance if you need to have any tests during your appointment, so please ensure you follow any instructions you are given. The medical tests are very important to your outcome/diagnosis, so please make sure you are available to attend any appointments needed at short notice.

You are welcome to bring a friend or family member with you, as it may be helpful if you have concerns, or questions about what the medical team will discuss with you.

Any questions?

If you have any concerns or questions regarding your referral to hospital, you can call the number given above. Alternatively, if you have concerns regarding your symptoms, please contact the person who referred you e.g., your GP, nurse, dentist, optician or pharmacist.

The way the NHS measures how long it will take from your referral to when you have your first appointment has recently changed. We used to measure the time it took from your referral to your first appointment, but now we are measuring the time between when you are referred to when you get the outcomes of any tests.

You can find more information on cancer standards and waiting times here.

More Information nd Support