The benefits of finding cancer at an earlier stage include more treatment options, a greater likelihood of living well after treatment and better news to tell the family.
The Scottish Government’s ‘Be the Early Bird’ campaign is encouraging people, particularly those aged over 40, to get checked if they notice unexplained bleeding, unusual lumps, unexplained weight loss or something that doesn’t feel normal for them.
People across Scotland are being reminded that their GP practice wants to know if they are experiencing persistent symptoms that are unusual for them, that could be cancer.
Margaret Sherwood, 62, was diagnosed with Cholangiocarcinoma, a rare form of cancer that affects the bile ducts in the body. It started with a persistent itch in unusual places like her hands and feet. When a rash appeared on her midriff and she noticed her urine was discoloured, Margaret knew she needed to contact her local GP practice. Margaret was referred and had several diagnostic tests that showed a tumour in her distal bile duct and surgery was advised as the optimal treatment.
“The whole process from the first itch to my surgery only took a matter of weeks – early detection was so important in how well everything went for me. “My advice to others is, if it’s unusual for your body, get it checked. The earlier you get diagnosed, the more options there will be for treatment."
If you’re worried about a possible cancer symptom, your GP practice wants to know.
For more information visit getcheckedearly.org
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