CANCER remains a ‘taboo word’ as people are putting off getting a diagnosis out of fear, a nurse practitioner has said.

The Blood Cancer UK Charity has found that more than half of British adults cannot name any symptom of blood cancer, and worryingly some of these signs are beign mistaken for coronavirus.

In a survey, people reported not knowing any symptom of the UK’s biggest cancer killer, which the charity branded as ‘extremely worrying’.

A North Wales nurse has opened up about the main signs of blood cancer, and why people are delaying their diagnosis.

September marks Blood Cancer Awareness Month and Steph Jackson, Advanced Haematology Nurse Practitioner for Cancer Services is urging people to know the main symptoms and to ‘listen to your body’.

The main symptoms of blood cancer include:

  • Lumps and swelling that do not tend to be painful
  • Shortness of breath
  • Drenching night sweats – with the need to change your night clothes, not waking up with a damp forehead
  • Sudden weightloss, around 10% which is unexplained
  • Bruises or bleeding – for women a new, heavy menstrual cycle
  • Fever of 38C or above which is unexplained
  • Rash or itchy skin
  • Pain in bones, joints or abdomen
  • Tiredness that does not improve
  • Unusual pale complexion

Steph said: “Sometimes these signs can be related to the menopause or Covid or other infections but if these do not improve you need further investigation.

“If someone has shortness of breath or an infection or fever, they may think it’s covid and if they explain that to their GP, automatically the GP will send them for a Covid test, which is fine we have to take that seriously.

“But if that comes back negative and symptoms aren’t improving, go back to your GP and say they need to investigate.

“If we have ruled out this could be Covid, you should phone your GP and tell them things have not improved and ask if there’s anything else you should be doing.

“Sometimes you have to persevere with your GP but you know your own body, you know when something isn’t right.”

However, Steph said they are seeing a rise in people who are putting off investigations out of fear of the diagnosis.

She added: “For some people, they potentially don’t chase this up because they don’t want to get diagnosed with cancer.

“Cancer is a taboo word and people put off investigating just in case, but once symptoms are investigated, diagnosed and treated, potentially the better the outcome.

“We can’t afford to delay potential blood cancer diagnoses, but we have seen a delay in presentation. People have been presenting quire late because they don’t want to go to their GP or hospital in case they catch Covid.”

“Listen to your body, you all know what your body is like. If something doesn’t feel right just call your GP.”

Steph is urging people to know the signs and symptoms and to investigate this as soon as possible, but she is also appealing for people to sign up to give blood – which can help save lives.

She said: “We use a lot of blood transfusions, so blood donations are needed. Blood donations reduced during Covid but people can help us and save lives by donating blood again.

“On a positive note, of anyone is diagnosed then the treatments we have now are far more improved. We have a good response to treatments.

“There has been so much research on cancer which means we have got medication, things are improving, but the important bit is getting that diagnosis.”

The Leader previously reported that a Buckley man had beat cancer twice thanks to the help from a German stranger, as they urged people to check they are eligible to save lives.

Back in 2019, Matt Davies was given 12-months to live without a stem cell transplant after a devastating diagnosis of leukaemia.

Wife Sarah Davies urged people to sign up to become a donor, which could save the lives of many people – and over 7,000 had signed up from her link alone.

Kate Keightley, head of support services at the Blood Cancer UK charity, said: “Sadly, symptoms such as fatigue, weight loss and night sweats can sometimes be dismissed or downplayed and the result can be devastating.

“During the height of the pandemic, we saw far fewer people being diagnosed with blood cancer, and one of the reasons for this could be that some of the symptoms of blood cancer are easily mistaken for Covid.

“It’s extremely worrying that public awareness that these could be signs of blood cancer continues to be so low.”