'Important not to ignore': Doctors share bathroom changes that could signal early cancer

The key, the experts say, is learning your own patterns so you can spot when something changes. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Abnormal vaginal bleeding tops the list of symptoms to watch out for, whether it's bleeding that occurs after the menopause, following sex, or between your regular periods.It's important not to ignore this because it could be a sign of an abnormality with the endometrium, such as an endometrial polyp, or an early sign of endometrial cancer, said Dr Benjamin.Dr Lord stressed understanding your usual cycle makes it much easier to notice when something's off.If you get three months of a change in pattern, or one month with a serious change in pattern, I would recommend seeing a doctor about this, advises Lord.She added that even a single instance of bleeding after menopause warrants an immediate GP visit, describing it as a crucial change.Pain in the pelvis or abdomen also deserves attention, particularly if it's something you've never felt before.Different pains can help give you a clue to what might be happening, said Lord, stressing that timing matters enormously.While period pain caused by prostaglandins is perfectly normal, new or unfamiliar discomfort could signal conditions like endometriosis or adenomyosis.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:Emergency doctor warns of overdose risk from common supplementHow to live longer: Doctor warns 3 habits secretly 'accelerate ageing'Fatty liver disease: How you cook red meat may matter more than how much you eatPain during deep penetration tends to be much more related to problems within the pelvis, explains Lord. It could be to do with a sexually transmitted infection, endometriosis or adenomyosis. It might also be fibroids or caused by ovarian tumours.Changes to your bowel habits are another signal the body shouldn't ignore. They may include infections transmitted through sexual contact, as well as chronic disorders like endometriosis and adenomyosis. In some cases, structural growths like fibroids, or more rarely ovarian tumours, may be responsibleVaginal discharge, too, offers important clues about reproductive health. Texture and consistency shift naturally over the course of the cycle, but persistent changes may point to an underlying issue.Watery green discharge, for example, can be a sign of Trichomonas vaginalis and a profuse yellow discharge can be a sign of gonorrhoea, explained Lord.Persistent bloating is perhaps the trickiest symptom, as it's often dismissed as digestive trouble, but Dr Benjamin warned that if bloating lasts longer than a week, it's worth seeing your GP.Bloating, feeling full after meals, or an increase in abdominal size can be potential signs of ovarian cancer, which is often picked up quite late because people are not aware of the symptoms, she explained.In the absence of routine screening programmes for ovarian cancer, early diagnosis hinges on how quickly symptoms are recognised and reported. So to make the most of a short GP appointment, Dr Lord recommends arriving prepared with a comprehensive record of your symptoms.Go to your doctor with an A4 folder of everything that you know about your medical history, advised Lord. Explain your current problem and show them notes from your last period and the previous period, and highlight the dates where you had a bit of bleeding or pain which hasn't happened before and that you weren't expecting.Making a diagnosis is all about pattern recognition, and some patterns are benign, and some are very clearly cancer. So, it's very useful if you can present a doctor with a pattern of the way your symptoms have changed. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter