| Welcome to the OutUK series looking at gay men and their health brought to you in association with the NHS website. |
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| Each week we'll tackle a different topic in our A to Z of Gay Health. We'll have features and advice on everything from relationships, sexual health, mental and physical conditions and how to stay fit. You can follow any of links provided below for more information direct from the NHS website, or see this week's feature L: Laxatives. |
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CancerCancer is a condition where cells in a specific part of the body grow and reproduce uncontrollably. The cancerous cells can invade and destroy surrounding healthy tissue, including organs. Cancer sometimes begins in one part of the body before spreading to other areas. This process is known as metastasis. 1 in 2 people will develop some form of cancer during their lifetime. In the UK, the 4 most common types of cancer are: There are more than 200 different types of cancer, and each is diagnosed and treated in a particular way. You can find links on this page to information about other types of cancer. Spotting signs of cancerChanges to your body's normal processes or unusual, unexplained symptoms can sometimes be an early sign of cancer. Symptoms that need to be checked by a doctor include:
But in many cases your symptoms will not be related to cancer and will be caused by other, non-cancerous health conditions. Read more about the signs and symptoms of cancer. Reducing your risk of cancerMaking some simple changes to your lifestyle can significantly reduce your risk of developing cancer. For example: Cancer treatmentSurgery is the first treatment to try for most types of cancer, as solid tumours can usually be surgically removed. 2 other commonly used treatment methods are:
Waiting timesAccurately diagnosing cancer can take weeks or months. As cancer often develops slowly over several years, waiting for a few weeks will not usually impact on the effectiveness of treatment. You should not have to wait more than 2 weeks to see a specialist if your GP suspects you have cancer and urgently refers you. In cases where cancer has been confirmed, you should not have to wait more than 31 days from the decision to treat to the start of treatment. NHS England has more detailed statistics on cancer waiting times Cancer servicesOther cancer pagesThe Health A-Z covers many different types of cancer:
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| OutUK's A to Z of Gay Health continues and you can read this week's feature L: Laxatives. We have covered many subjects in this series and you can catch up with all of our Previous A to Z Features. If you want to find out more about this particular topic you can visit the Original article on the NHS website. If you are worried by any aspect of your health make sure you go and see your doctor or book an appointment at your local clinic. | | |
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