Know your normal: health changes worth getting checked

What does knowing your normal mean?

Knowing your normal means having a general sense of how your body usually looks, feels and works. That includes your energy levels, your weight, your toilet habits, your skin and how your body feels day to day. It is not about checking yourself constantly or worrying about every small change. It is about noticing when something is different and has not settled.

Most changes have a simple explanation and are nothing to worry about. But some can be an early sign of a health problem, including cancer, and many problems are easier to treat when they are found early.

Which changes are worth noticing?

The NHS lists changes that can sometimes be a sign of cancer and are worth getting checked. They include:

• losing weight without trying, or feeling less hungry than usual
• a new lump or swelling anywhere on your body
• unusual bleeding or bruising, such as blood in your pee or poo
• a cough that does not get better or gets worse
• changes in your poo, such as going more or less often, or diarrhoea or constipation that does not get better
• heartburn or indigestion that is frequent, very painful or gets worse
• a new mole, or a change to a mole
• problems swallowing
• pain anywhere in your body that is not usual for you
• feeling more tired than usual

These symptoms are much more likely to be caused by something less serious. But if you notice one, especially if it lasts or keeps coming back, it is worth speaking to a GP.

What about tiredness and weight changes?

Feeling tired is common, and it is often linked to sleep, stress or a busy period. Tiredness that is new, does not improve with rest and has no obvious reason is different, and worth mentioning to a GP.

Weight can go up and down a little from week to week. Losing weight without trying, when you have not changed what you eat or how active you are, is one of the changes the NHS says to get checked.

When should you speak to a GP?

Cancer Research UK puts it simply: if something does not feel quite right, you have noticed an unusual change, or you are worried, speak to your doctor. It also makes an important point: it is not your job to know whether something is serious or not. That is what your GP is there for.

It gives a cough that has not gone away after three weeks as one example of when to get checked. If a symptom is severe or comes on suddenly, do not wait. In an emergency, call 999.

How can you keep track of a change?

Making a few notes can help you and your GP. Write down what you have noticed, when it started, whether it comes and goes, and anything that makes it better or worse. A note on your phone is enough. Taking it to your appointment means you will not forget anything, and it can help your GP see the bigger picture.

You can read more about getting to know your body in our guide to understanding your body, and about the checks that can find problems early in our guide to reducing your risk of cancer.