A mole is usually a mid or dark brown flat mark (a junctional naevus), or a dome-shaped brown or flesh-coloured bump (a dermal naevus). It should be neither itchy nor bothersome. You may have numerous moles, and they may run in your family. They may have been present for as long as you can remember, or since birth, although new moles can appear throughout childhood and even into your 20s, especially after recent sun exposure. Certain skin types such as those with pale skin, blue eyes and red or blond hair, and who are likely to easily burn, are likely to be more at risk of concerning changes to moles.

Cancer occurs when cells in our body multiply out of control, producing lots of abnormal cells. These abnormal cells don't function like the cell should and can invade tissues or organs and can sometimes spread to other parts of the body. Anal cancer is cancer that is in the anus, which is the last few centimetres of the bowel and connects the bowel to the outside of the body (the last part your stool passes through the anus when you go for a poo). It isn’t a common cancer – it causes less than 1% of all cancers - but HPV (human papillomavirus) infection increases your risk of developing anal cancer. HPV is a virus passed on through sexual intercourse. Most people will be infected with HPV infection in their lifetime and the majority will not develop anal cancer. Both HPV infection and anal cancer are more common in people who have anal sex with a lot of different partners, those who smoke, those with a lowered immune system, or those who have had cervical, vulval or vaginal cancer. The most common symptoms of anal cancer are bleeding, pain, itching, discharge and faecal incontinence (losing the ability to control when you poo). There are many more common causes of bleeding, pain and itching symptoms that are not anal cancer, so please don’t be worried if you have symptoms but always get them checked out. We should be clear - anal cancer is rare. More subtle signs of cancer can be unexplained tiredness or loss of weight, night sweats or pain in your bones.

Testicular lumps are more common than you would think and can be caused by a variety of things. The majority of these are nothing serious, but they should always be checked out by your doctor. This is because a small number of cases may turn out to be cancerous. The good news is the survival rate for testicular cancer is high, especially when caught early and treated. Healthwords' advice is that anyone with testicles should remember to check their balls at least once a month. This is different to prostate cancer.

An SCC (squamous cell carcinoma) is usually a firm pink or red lump and typically occurs in sun-exposed areas like the face, ears, forearms and hands, shoulder, upper chest and back. It might feel tender to press, it may develop a solid horny lump sticking up and it can sometimes ulcerate, giving a wet appearance. This grows slowly over weeks, months or even years. It usually occurs in people aged over 50, in response to years of sun damage. While skin cancers all develop in response to sun damage, and similar risk factors make some more susceptible than others, there are different types of skin cancer. Melanoma is the most well-known, but actually the less common. This is where a new mole appears or an existing mole changes. SCC is a different process and doesn't usually start as a mole.

Sarcoma is a rare cancer affecting any part of the body. The most common type are soft tissue sarcomas which develop in muscle, nerves, fatty tissue and blood vessels. The other types are bone sarcoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumours. Around 3,000 people a year in the UK are diagnosed with sarcoma, making it a rare cancer, and it affects men and women equally. Types of Sarcomas Bone Sarcomas Bone sarcomas are a diverse group of malignancies that originate from bone tissue, comprising several distinct subtypes with varying characteristics and treatment approaches. The main types of bone sarcomas include osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, and chondrosarcoma. Osteosarcoma is the most common type of primary bone cancer, typically arising in the long bones of the arms and legs. It predominantly affects children and young adults, with a peak incidence during adolescence. Osteosarcoma often presents as a painful swelling or mass near the affected bone and may be associated with pathological fractures. Diagnosis is confirmed through imaging studies, such as X-rays, CT scans, or MRI, followed by biopsy for histological examination. Treatment typically involves a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and sometimes radiation therapy, aimed at achieving local control and preventing metastasis. Ewing sarcoma is a rare type of bone cancer that primarily affects children and young adults. It commonly arises in the pelvis, femur, or ribs, although it can occur in any bone. Ewing sarcoma is characterised by aggressive growth and a propensity for metastasis to other bones or organs. Symptoms may include pain, swelling, and occasionally, fever. Diagnosis involves imaging studies and biopsy for histological analysis. Treatment usually consists of chemotherapy, surgery, and/or radiation therapy, depending on the extent of the disease and the presence of metastasis. Chondrosarcoma is a malignant tumour that arises from cartilage cells within bones. It typically occurs in older adults and commonly affects the pelvis, femur, or shoulder. Chondrosarcoma is characterised by slow growth and a tendency to recur locally, although it has a lower risk of metastasis than osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma. Diagnosis is established through imaging studies and biopsy. Treatment involves surgical resection of the tumour, with adjuvant therapy such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy in some cases. Soft Tissue Sarcomas Soft tissue sarcomas are a diverse group of cancers that arise from various soft tissues in the body, including muscles, fat, nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissues. These tumours encompass a wide range of subtypes, each with unique histological, molecular, and clinical features. Liposarcoma is the most common type of soft tissue sarcoma, arising from fat cells (adipocytes). It typically occurs in the extremities, retroperitoneum, or trunk. Liposarcoma is classified into several subtypes, including well-differentiated, dedifferentiated, myxoid, and pleomorphic variants, each with distinct characteristics and prognosis. Leiomyosarcoma originates from smooth muscle cells and can arise in various locations, including the uterus, gastrointestinal tract, and soft tissues of the extremities. It is characterised by aggressive growth and a propensity for metastasis. Fibrosarcoma arises from fibroblasts, which are cells that produce collagen and other structural proteins in connective tissue. It commonly affects the extremities, trunk, or head and neck region. Fibrosarcoma is characterised by a high recurrence rate and potential for metastasis. Synovial sarcoma is a rare soft tissue sarcoma that typically arises near joints, especially in the extremities. Despite its name, it does not originate from synovial tissue. Synovial sarcoma is characterised by a unique chromosomal translocation and tends to affect young adults. It has a propensity for local recurrence and metastasis.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK. It mainly affects men over the age of 75 but can also occur in younger men. It affects around 1 in every 8 men in their lifetime, with around 52,000 men diagnosed with it each year in the UK. The prostate is a walnut-sized gland in men by the base of the bladder that produces seminal fluid, which helps sustain semen and transport sperm. Prostate cancer occurs when cells in the gland change, causing abnormal growth and – like many cancers - it develops slowly over time and so may cause few, if any, symptoms initially. Prostate cancer is often confined within the prostate gland and causes little serious harm, although it may cause troublesome symptoms. However, it can spread to other organs and become life-threatening and so for this reason the sooner prostate cancer is found, the better the chances of treatment being effective.

The pancreas is a long, flat organ in your tummy, just behind the stomach, that releases enzymes that help with digestion of food. It also makes important hormones like insulin that help regulate your blood sugar. You can’t usually feel it, but it sits just below the centre of your chest, between the rib cage and your belly button. Cancer of the pancreas is fairly common in the UK – it's the 11th most common cancer with over 10,000 cases diagnosed each year - but sadly it has one of the lowest survival rates of all common cancers, usually because symptoms are only noticed when it’s already at a fairly advanced stage in the body. There are a number of types of pancreatic cancer but the most common is an adenocarcinoma that causes over 90% of cases.

The ovaries are two small organs in the pelvis whose main function is to store and release eggs in the monthly cycle that can cause pregnancy to occur in women of child-bearing age. Because of this they have little use after the menopause. Cancer can develop in an ovary and this type of cancer particularly affects women over 50 years old. Sadly, ovarian cancer is often diagnosed late, which means it carries a higher chance of death than some other cancers. It is the sixth most common cancer in women in the UK, affecting around 7,000 women each year, and around half of these are over the age of 65. There are a number of types of ovarian cancer, distinguished from each other by the type of cell the cancer occurs in. These include epithelial ovarian cancer (that causes around 90% of cases), germ cell cancer that arises from the egg-making cells and stromal ovarian cancer which is rare.

The oesophagus is another name for the food pipe or ‘gullet’, the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach. Oesophageal cancer can arise anywhere along the food pipe. There are around 8,000 cases diagnosed every year in the UK, with over 6 in 10 being found in men. It is the 7th most common cancer in the UK and causes around 5% of all cancer deaths. There are two types of oesophageal cancer. The most common type (60% of cases) is adenocarcinoma that arises from within the mucous glands towards the bottom of the tube. The second type (40% of cases) is squamous cell carcinoma, which arises from the lining of the oesophagus in the top and middle part of the tube. The sooner oesophageal cancer is found, the better the chance of cure of the disease as it is often tough to treat, and less than half survive a year or more. At present, around 25% of people diagnosed with this type of cancer are still alive 5 years after their diagnosis.

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) is a type of blood cancer that develops from the lymphatic system. This system is a network of vessels throughout your body that work as part of your immune system, carrying fluid containing infection-fighting white blood cells, called lymphocytes, to where they detect a threat. In NHL, these lymphocytes become dysfunctional and multiply out of control. They can then collect in different areas of the lymphatic system known as the lymph glands, and this can cause swelling you can see and feel in certain areas of the body. The consequence is that the lymphatic system becomes less able to fight infections. There are two types of lymphoma – NHL and Hodgkin’s lymphoma – and around 4 in 5 of cases are the NHL type. NHL can occur at any age, but your chance of developing the condition increases over the age of 50, with just over a third of cases being diagnosed in people over 75. It’s fairly common in the UK, within the top 10 most common cancers and accounts for 1 in 25 of all cancers, with men being more commonly affected than women.

Melanoma (also known as malignant melanoma) is the most serious type of skin cancer caused by sun exposure. It's serious because the cancer can spread to other organs in the body, so it needs prompt identification and treatment. You can take steps to prevent it, but also keep a watch for any moles or other skin marks that are new, changing or don't look like your other moles. Melanoma is the 5th most common cancer in the UK, with almost 17,000 new cases each year. The number of cases has doubled in the last 30 years, and it can occur at any age.

Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK, with just under 40,000 cases diagnosed each year and sadly it often has a poor outlook. Cancer occurs when there is an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the lung tissue. This can cause a blockage in the airways or fluid on the lungs, making breathing difficult, and ultimately it can spread to other organs and cause widespread damage and threat to life. Smoking is the cause of most lung cancers – because smoking is so common, this makes lung cancer very common. Older people are more likely to be affected, and men more often than women. When cancer starts in the lungs it is called primary lung cancer. Cancer spreading from another organ via the blood to the lungs is known as secondary lung cancer, or metastatic cancer. Breast and bowel cancer often metastasise to the lungs, unless they are diagnosed and treated early.