Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Fit for WorkCancerLatest NewsReturn to work and rehabilitationSickness absence management

NHS urging people to check for cancer warning signs

by Nic Paton 22 Apr 2025
by Nic Paton 22 Apr 2025 The NHS is reminding people to check for signs of cancer, as a poll has shown people check their bank balance more often than their bodies
Shutterstock
The NHS is reminding people to check for signs of cancer, as a poll has shown people check their bank balance more often than their bodies
Shutterstock

People check their bank balance more frequently than they do their body for possible warning signs of cancer, an NHS survey has found.

The poll of 2,000 people found that only four in 10 (39%) looked for changes to their bodies at least once every three weeks – despite this being vital in spotting potential signs of the disease

Cancer and work

Returning to work top concern for employees with cancer

Employers failing to tell cancer carers of their rights

Bomb disposal veterans at heightened risk of bladder cancer

People were more likely regularly to check their bank balance (80%) – especially given the rising cost of living – the weather forecast (70%), sport results (42%) and upcoming entertainment such as TV shows (41%), than they were to check for changes in their body, the poll concluded.

The NHS advises people regularly to check for any new lumps or unexpected changes in the body to help identify any possible symptoms of cancer.

The finding has prompted Professor Peter Johnson, national NHS cancer director, to reiterate the importance of regularly checking your body.

“It is so important to know what is normal for you, although we all find a host of other things to think about rather than checking for any changes in our bodies,” he said.

“That’s why I want to encourage everyone to make it a part of your routine – finding a way that works for you might just save your life.

“If you do spot something worrying, get in touch with your GP surgery, who can investigate for you. It’s unlikely to be cancer, but if there is something wrong, the earlier it is found, the better the chance of treatment being successful,” Dr Johnson added.

The data also revealed that the public may not recognise key signs and symptoms, despite 78% saying they are confident they could recognise a change in their body.

The least recognised as a sign of cancer was heartburn and indigestion, with eight in 10 people surveyed (79%) not identifying heartburn that lasts three weeks or more as a potential sign of cancer.

More than half (55%) did not recognise blood in your pee (even just once), nearly half (49%) did not recognise unexplained weight loss, and more than four in 10 people (42%) did not recognise an unexplained lump anywhere on the body as potential signs of cancer.

NHS data has also emphasised the importance of early detection and diagnosis in terms of recovery and, ideally, eventual return to work.

Of 13 of the most common cancers, such as breast, prostate and lung cancer, nearly three in five patients are now being diagnosed at stages 1 or 2, when cancer is easier to treat and the chance of survival is higher, it concluded.

 

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

 

Latest HR job opportunities on Personnel Today


Browse more human resources jobs

Nic Paton

Nic Paton is consultant editor at Personnel Today. One of the country's foremost workplace health journalists, Nic has written for Personnel Today and Occupational Health & Wellbeing since 2001, and edited the magazine from 2018.

previous post
Call for better mental health support for NHS workers
next post
How to help employees quit vaping before new ban comes into effect

You may also like

Fewer workers would comply with a return-to-office mandate

21 May 2025

Pay awards in real terms could fall for...

21 May 2025

Ryanair demands flight attendants pay back salary increase

21 May 2025

Consultation launched after Supreme Court ‘sex’ ruling

20 May 2025

Uncertainty over law hampering legal use of medical...

20 May 2025

Black security manager awarded £360k after decade of...

20 May 2025

Employers ‘worryingly’ ignorant about stress risk assessments

20 May 2025

UK and EU agree to collaborate on ‘youth...

19 May 2025

Immigration white paper: which jobs will be affected?

19 May 2025

Awareness weeks fuel spike in demand for mental...

19 May 2025

  • 2025 Employee Communications Report PROMOTED | HR and leadership...Read more
  • The Majority of Employees Have Their Eyes on Their Next Move PROMOTED | A staggering 65%...Read more
  • Prioritising performance management: Strategies for success (webinar) WEBINAR | In today’s fast-paced...Read more
  • Self-Leadership: The Key to Successful Organisations PROMOTED | Eletive is helping businesses...Read more
  • Retaining Female Talent: Four Ways to Reduce Workplace Drop Out PROMOTED | International Women’s Day...Read more

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today