When you should see your GP if you’re feeling tired
Experts at Cancer Research UK are urging people to make an appointment with their GP if they are always feeling tired.
With people working more hours and socialising more during the summer months, many will naturally feel more tired. However, if this is an ongoing issue and you suspect something else could be the cause, it’s best to talk to a doctor.
On their website, the cancer experts say that feeling tired is a top symptom of bone cancer. Even if you are getting a good night’s sleep, you might still feel more tired than usual.
So what are the symptoms of bone cancer?
The symptoms of bone cancer can vary depending on the size of the cancer and where it is in the body. Some of the symptoms of bone cancer include:
- pain
- swelling
- problems moving around
- feeling tired
- a high temperature (fever)
- a break in the bone (fracture)
- weight loss
Primary bone cancer is very rare, so it’s more likely that another issue is causing your symptoms. However, it’s crucial to have any symptoms checked by your GP.
Cancer can also spread to your bones from other parts of the body, known as secondary or metastatic bone cancer. The signs and symptoms of secondary bone cancer may differ with symptoms including:
- pain – the pain is continuous, and people often describe it as gnawing
- backache, which gets worse despite resting
- breaks in the bones because they are weaker
- dehydration, confusion, being sick, tummy (abdominal) pain and constipation due to high levels of calcium in the blood (hypercalcaemia)
- increased risk of infection, breathlessness and looking pale, bruising and bleeding due to low levels of blood cells. Blood cells are made in the bone marrow and can be crowded out by the cancer cells
- pain, weakness in your legs, numbness, paralysis and loss of bladder and bowel control (incontinence). This could be because of pressure on the spinal cord (spinal cord compression)
What should I expect with these common symptoms?
The experts state that if you have primary bone cancer, you could experience the following:
Pain
You might have pain or tenderness most of the time, even when you’re resting. The pain is often worse in bed at night. You could have pain that is felt in a different part of the body from where the tumour is. This is called referred pain.
Swelling
You might have some swelling, but it is not always possible to see or feel a lump.
Problems moving around
It might be more difficult to move around, or you might walk with a limp.
Some less common symptoms include…
A break in the bone
You might have a fracture caused by a weakened bone. This is called a pathological fracture but is very rare.
A high temperature (fever)
You might have a high temperature, feel feverish and have sweats.
Weight loss
You might lose weight even if you haven’t changed your diet. If you have any of these symptoms, you must see your GP, Cancer Research say.
Other medical conditions can cause similar symptoms. It doesn’t mean you have cancer but the earlier a cancer is picked up, the easier it is to treat, and the more likely treatment is to be successful.
