Use Mindfulness to Lose Weight

Could losing weight be all in the mind? Meditation 'helps keep the pounds off by stopping us eating out of habit'

• Mindfulness meditation helps people become aware of their body's signals
• Obesity expert Dr Ian Campbell says it may be the key to weight loss
• Dutch study found naturally mindful people's weight fluctuates less
• Experts: They are better able to recognise when they are hungry or full

By FIONA MACRAE

Forget endless salads and early-morning gym sessions, the key to losing weight could be all in the mind.

Scientists claim that mindfulness, a meditation-like technique that is becoming increasingly trendy, can help us tune into our body’s hunger signals.

This will mean we only eat when we need to – and so stop the pounds from piling on.

While the idea may seem wacky, mindfulness has been credited with a host of health benefits from easing depression to boosting the immune system and lowering blood pressure.

And a leading British obesity expert has said it may be the ‘missing link’ in the search for an effective weight loss technique.

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Mindfulness, a meditation-like technique which teaches people to become more aware of their body's signals, may be the‘missing link’ in the search for an effective weight loss technique, an obesity expert claims

Dutch researchers carried out a series of studies to see if mindfulness, which involves blocking out distractions, focusing in the present and listening to your body, stops people from eating mindlessly.

In some of these, volunteers were quizzed to find out if they were naturally high in mindfulness.

Questions included whether they were normally aware if their breathing rate changed and how good they were at finding words to describe their feelings.

The volunteers were then given milkshakes to drink and then watched as they snacked on chocolates later.

Importantly, some of the shakes contained cream and so should have made the volunteers feel much fuller and led to them eating fewer chocolates.

This was the case for the volunteers judged as being high on mindfulness.

However, those less able to listen to their body dug into the chocolates, no matter how creamy and calorific the shake.

Another experiment suggested that listening to a mindfulness tape for a few minutes made it easier for people to realise if they were hungry.

Finally, the team from Wageningen University analysed data on more than 400 people who had undergone regular weigh-ins over two and a half years.

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A Dutch study found people who are 'naturally mindful' are better able to recognise when they are hungry - meaning their weight fluctuates less than people who are less aware of their body's signals

Like the first group of men and women, they were also asked questions to determine how naturally mindful they were.

Weight fluctuated less in the more mindful sorts, the Journal of Consumer Research reports.

The researchers believe that by listening to the body and blocking out distractions, we become more aware of whether we really are hungry or whether we simply want to eat out of habit.

Just telling people to eat less and exercise more doesn't tend to work, we have incorporated mindfulness into our weight loss programme and the results have been fantastic 

Ian Campbell, a Nottingham GP and weight loss expert 

Ian Campbell, a Nottingham GP and weight loss expert, said eating mindfully makes dieters aware of what and how much they eat, while regular meditation boosts self-esteem and self-control.

This gives people more will power to limit calorie intake and change their eating habits for good.

Dr Campbell also who runs a private weight loss clinic, where he advises patients to follow he practice.

He said: ‘Just telling people to eat less and exercise more doesn't tend to work, we have incorporated mindfulness into our weight loss programme and the results have been fantastic.

‘It addresses emotions and relationships with food and tackles the fact that so much of what we do is out of habit.’

He added that mindfulness could provide the ‘missing link’ between the biology and psychology of weight loss.

Superfood: BLUEBERRIES!

The true superfood: Snacking on BLUEBERRIES could stop dementia developing decades later 

• A compound found in fruit may strengthen brain against Alzheimer's
• The disease and other forms of dementia affect 850,000 Britons 
• A nutritional approach represents way to mitigate risk for late-life dementia 

By FIONA MACRAE

Snacking on blueberries from middle age could prevent dementia developing decades later, scientists say.

Experts told a major US conference that a compound in the berries may strengthen the brain’s defences against Alzheimer’s.

In the absence of effective drugs, a nutritional option ‘represents a potentially potent approach to mitigate risk for late-life dementia’, they said.

Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia affect some 850,000 Britons and cost the economy £26billion a year.

With the search for new medicines largely fruitless, despite hundreds of drug trials and billions of pounds of funding, some experts believe more emphasis should be placed on the benefits of a healthy diet.

Candidates include the humble blueberry, a ‘superfood’ already credited with lowering the risk of heart disease and cancer.

University of Cincinnati researcher Robert Krikorian (CORR) studied 47 men and women aged 68-plus who had been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment.

The term covers the slight memory lapses that often, although not always, develop into full-blown dementia.

All were given a placebo powder or one made of freeze-dried blueberries to take once a day for four months.

The blueberry powder been specially made for the study, and one sachet contained the equivalent of a small teacupful of berries.

The volunteers were also put through a battery of mental tests at the study’s start and end, with a focus on memory and thinking skills that are eroded by dementia.

The results showed that the berries seemed to give the ageing brain a boost.

Dr Krikorian said: ‘There was a significant improvement in cognitive function in those who had the blueberry powder, compared with those who took the placebo.’

In addition scans showed the brain was more active in those who had taken the blueberry powder.

The researcher believes the benefits are due to anthocyanins, the plant chemicals that give the berries their deep blue/purple colour.

They are thought to act on the brain in various ways, including boosting blood flow, cutting inflammation, and enhancing the passage of information between cells.

The chemicals may also boost cells’ defences, an American Chemical Society conference heard.

In a second study of people who hadn’t been diagnosed with any memory problems, but simply felt they were becoming more forgetful, the berries also helped boost cognition, although to a lesser extent.

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A compound in the berries may strengthen the brain’s defences against Alzheimer’s, which combined with other forms of dementia affects some 850,000 Britons

When previous research is factored in, Dr Krikorian, who received funding from the US government, as well as from berry growers, says all the evidence points to blueberries having the potential to prevent the onset of dementia.

He said: ‘Our findings corroborate those of previous animal studies and preliminary human studies, adding further support to the notion that blueberries can have a real benefit in improving memory and cognitive function in older adults.’

He now wants to study people in their 50s and early 60s whose weight, blood pressure or other medical condition puts them at higher than usual risk of Alzheimer’s.

But, in the meantime, he advises healthy adults to stock up on blueberries.

And with research suggesting Alzheimer’s may eat away at the brain for decades before symptoms start to show, he says it is important to protect the brain from middle-age.

Dr Krikorian said: ‘I believe that berry supplementation and, in particular, blueberry supplementation, may reduce the risk for late-life cognitive decline.

‘The minimum dose is not clear but data suggest that taking blueberries several times a week should be beneficial.’

Snacking on blueberries from middle age could prevent dementia developing decades later, scientists told a US conference.

Nuts can Extend Your Life!

A handful of nuts can extend your life by two years... and it WON'T make you gain weight 

• People who eat nuts tend to live longer and suffer fewer deaths from cancer
• For women, eating just two handfuls of nuts a week may extend their lives as much as by jogging four hours a week 
• Not a single clinical trial showed the weight gain you might expect from nuts

By DR MICHAEL GREGER FOR THE DAILY MAIL

Sometimes it feels like there aren't enough hours in a day to get everything done. So instead of trying to make your day longer, why not extend your life by an extra couple of years?

That's how long your lifespan may be increased by eating nuts regularly — one handful (or about 30 grams) five or more days a week.

In one major study after another, it's been found that people who eat nuts tend to live longer and suffer fewer deaths from cancer, heart disease and respiratory disease.

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In one major study after another, it's been found that people who eat nuts tend to live longer and suffer fewer deaths from cancer, heart disease and respiratory disease

For women, eating just two handfuls of nuts a week may extend their lives as much as by jogging four hours a week.

Harvard University researchers found that women at high risk of heart disease who had a tablespoon of peanut butter five or more days a week appeared to nearly halve their risk of suffering a heart attack compared with women who ate one serving or less per week. 

And adolescent girls who consumed just one or more servings of peanuts a week appeared to have significantly lower risk of developing lumpy breasts, which can be a marker for increased breast cancer risk. 

Won't nuts make you fat? To date, there have been about 20 clinical trials on nuts and weight, and not a single one showed the weight gain you might expect. 

The nut-eaters — each of whom ate a handful or two a day — either had less weight gain than predicted, no weight gain at all, or actually lost weight. 

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Adolescent girls who consumed just one or more servings of peanuts a week appeared to have significantly lower risk of developing lumpy breasts, which can be a marker for increased breast cancer risk

In one trial, for instance, participants who ate up to 120 pistachios every day for three months didn't appear to gain an ounce. 

How could 30,000 calories vanish into thin air? One theory is that many of the cell walls of nuts pass undigested through the gastrointestinal tract — accounting for 10 per cent of the disappearing calories. 

The fact that nuts can make you feel full faster than some other foods probably accounts for about 70 per cent of the rest.

And the remaining 20 per cent? The answer appears to lie in the ability of nuts to boost metabolism — so when you eat nuts, you burn more of your own fat.

Researchers have found that within an eight-hour period, people eating an average diet burned off about 20 grams of fat.

But when walnuts were included in the diet, they burned off about 31 grams of fat.

Advisory Report on Ovarian Cancer

Alarm over the 'worrying' gaps in scientists' understanding of ovarian cancer - but how can YOU tell if you're suffering from this 'silent killer'?

• US advisory report warned that ovarian cancer is poorly understood
• The disease is a 'silent killer' - with a five-year survival rate of just 46%
• There is a lack of effective early screening tests for ovarian cancer
• And, the disease has many subsets and may originate outside of the ovary
• Scientific community must devote more resources to the disease - report

By LISA RYAN FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

Ovarian cancer is poorly understood – and resources must be devoted to understanding its origins, experts have said.

The disease has long been known as a ‘silent killer', claiming the lives of more than 14,000 women in the US each year, as well as more than 4,000 in the UK.

It is one of the deadliest cancers, with few symptoms in the early stages of the disease – and effective early screening tests are unavailable.

And yet, there remains ‘significant gaps’ in knowledge about the disease, according to a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine report.

The US government advisory committee’s report uncovered evidence that ovarian cancer may be ‘a constellation of different cancers’ rather than a single disease – and that it may not even originate in the ovaries.

Dr Jerome Strauss III, chair of the committee that carried out the study, said: ‘While progress has been made in ovarian cancer research over the past few decades, much remains to be learned.

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The US scientific national academy warned in a new report that there are 'surprising gaps' in understanding of ovarian cancer, even though it is one of the most deadly cancers for women. The 'silent killer' has no distinguishable symptoms, is rarely caught in the early stages and has no effective early screening test

‘The more that is understood about the basic biology of various types of ovarian cancers, such as where they originate in the body, the more rapidly we can move toward advances in prevention, screening, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and supportive care.’

The report was released in time for Ovarian Cancer Month in the UK, which is celebrated in March, though the US counterpart is celebrated in September.

The five-year survival rate of the disease is only 46 per cent – and ovarian cancer is now known to be the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths among women.

The report found that ovarian cancer likely originates in tissues outside of the ovaries, including the fallopian tubes, and eventually metastasize to the ovary. 

Furthermore, the report found that there’s little information about how each sub-type of ovarian cancer progresses.

And, nearly two-thirds of women with the disease are diagnosed at an advanced stage when the cancer has already spread beyond the ovary – which has a five-year survival rate of less than 30 per cent.

As a result, it is vital that early detection methods be improved – and that the public have a better understanding of the symptoms of the deadly disease.

THE TOP SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF OVARIAN CANCER 

Ovarian cancer doesn't have any distinct symptoms, the report noted.

However, the American Cancer Society said there are a few common symptoms to look out for.

Women are far more likely to have symptoms if the disease has spread beyond the ovaries.

And yet, even early-stage ovarian cancer can cause some of the following symptoms:

• Bloating 
• Pelvic or abdominal pain 
• Trouble eating or feeling full quickly 
• Urinary symptoms - including having to pee more frequently

Those symptoms may also arise from non-cancerous diseases - or cancers of other organs.

But, when they occur as a result of ovarian cancer, the symptoms are persistent and occur more often (and are more severe) than usual. 

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There are a few symptoms of ovarian cancer, including pelvic or abdominal pain, bloating, trouble eating or feeling full quickly and urinary symptoms. But, these symptoms are only signs of ovarian cancer if they are persistent and out of the ordinary. Women should see a doctor of they have 12 instances in a month

The American Cancer Society recommends a woman see her doctor - preferably a gynecologist - if she has those symptoms more than 12 times in a month. 

Some other symptoms of ovarian cancer - but which are more likely to occur because of another condition - include:

• Fatigue 
• Nausea 
• Back pain 
• Pain during sex 
• Constipation 
• Menstrual changes 
• Abdominal swelling with weight loss 

However, the American Cancer Society noted that those symptoms are just as likely to occur in women who don't have ovarian cancer. 

And so, they are not as indicative of the disease as the first set of symptoms. 

HOW TO DETECT OVARIAN CANCER EARLY

Only 20 per cent of ovarian cancers are found at an early stage, according to the American Cancer Society. 

But, when the disease is found early at a localized stage, nearly 94 per cent of patients survive longer than five years after the diagnosis.

Unfortunately, there isn't any one uniform tool to detect ovarian cancer, as there is with breast cancer and mammograms.

Even regular gynecological appointments, which include pelvic exams, may miss an ovarian tumor.

During pelvic exams, doctors feel the ovaries and uterus - and inspect them for size, shape and consistency.

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Only 20 per cent of ovarian cancer (pictured) is detected in the early stages. There isn't any uniform tool, such as a mammogram for breast cancer, to detect the disease. However, doctors can administer a CA-125 blood test or transvaginal ultrasound to try to look for signs of the disease

Yet, the American Cancer Society noted that it is difficult 'for even the most skilled practitioner' to identify or feel ovarian tumors. 

And so, if a woman experiences the symptoms listed above, she should ask her doctor to conduct one of two tests: a transvaginal ultrasound and a CA-125 blood test.

Those tests are two of the best options out there - but neither is completely accurate. 

The transvaginal ultrasound uses sound waves to look at the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries through an ultrasound wand.

That test can find a mass in the ovary - though it cannot tell if it is cancer or not.

In contrast, the second test detects levels of the protein CA-125 in the blood.

For women with ovarian cancers, their CA-125 levels are often high. 

But, other conditions can also cause CA-125 levels to be abnormal - and not every woman with ovarian cancer has high levels.

That's why regular transvaginal ultrasounds and CA-125 tests are not recommended.

CAN A PAP SMEAR DETECT OVARIAN CANCER?

Pap smears, which are known as smear tests in the UK, are a topic of much controversy.

In the US, the tests are recommended for all women between the ages of 21 and 65, according to the US Preventative Services Task Force.

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Pap smears (pictured, called smear tests in the UK) cannot detect ovarian cancer. They only screen for cervical abnormalities and changes

And yet, in the UK, smear tests are not conducted until the age of 25. 

According to the charity Target Ovarian Cancer, smear tests only screen for cervical abnormalities and changes.

Therefore, they will not detect ovarian cancer in the early stages.

The American Cancer Society noted that the tests can 'rarely' detect ovarian cancer in the advance stages, though. 

Best Way to Get Over A Heart Attack

The best way to get over a heart attack? Do MORE exercise

• Study involved 2,000 patients who had stress tests before a heart attack
• Researchers looked at their fitness scores from earlier treadmill test
• Those who were fittest were 40% more likely to survive attack after a year

By KATE PICKLES

Regular exercise not only reduces the chance of having a heart attack - it also boosts your chances of surviving one.

Researchers have found keeping in shape improves life expectancy after suffering a heart attack.

The study involved more than 2,061 adults who had undergone previous stress tests and then later went on to have a first heart attack.

Scientists from the Henry Ford Health System, in Detroit, and Johns Hopkins, in Baltimore, said it was the first time such a study had been conducted.

'We knew that fitter people generally live longer, but we now have evidence linking fitness to survival after a first heart attack,' said Dr Michael Blaha, assistant professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

'It makes sense, but we believe this is the first time there is documentation of that association.'

Scientists focused on medical records of people who had taken a treadmill stress test before their first heart attack.

They used the patient's achieved metabolic equivalent score (MET) as a quick, although not perfect, measure of energy consumption at rest and during physical activity.

The higher the MET score, the more physically fit the participants were considered to be.

MET scores range from one to 12, where one is considered the equivalent of sitting on the couch, three is associated with walking, seven with jogging, 10 with skipping rope and 12 with sprinting.

They found overall, those MET scores of 10 or higher had about 40 per cent fewer deaths after a first heart attack compared to the rest of the patients.

They also observed that a third of the 754 patients with a MET score of six or less died within a year of their first heart attack.

Overall, their results showed an eight per cent reduction in death risk for each whole-number increase in MET score after a first heart attack.

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Patients with a metabolic equivalent score of more than 10, which suggests a high level of fitness, had a 40 per cent greater chance of survival after a heart attack, according to research on more than 2000 patients

Dr Clinton Brawner, clinical exercise physiologist at Henry Ford Health System, said: 'Our data suggest that doctors working with patients who have cardiovascular risk factors should be saying, ''Mr. Jones, you need to start an exercise programme now to improve your fitness and chances of survival, should you experience a heart attack.'' 

We knew that fitter people generally live longer, but we now have evidence linking fitness to survival after a first heart attack

Dr Michael Blaha, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Dr Blaha emphasised that fitter patients still had heart attacks but appeared less likely to die from them.

From an initial pool of 69,885, the researchers excluded patients who had heart attacks before the stress test, patients that never had a heart attack or patients whose records were missing fitness data from the stress test, narrowing the final research pool to 2,061 people.

The patients were an average of 62, 38 per cent were female.

Dr Blaha said they had not yet determined if people who are fitter have less damaging heart attacks, or if they have same-sized heart attacks as those who are unfit but survive them better.

Decades of research show that cardiovascular fitness does increase blood flow to the heart and may aid in healing, which is a likely contributing factor to lower mortality rates. 

Signs of Cancer

From a persistent cough to a sore that won't heal... experts reveal the 10 'red flag' symptoms that mean YOU could have cancer

• A long-term cough could indicate lung cancer, while a changing mole could be a sign you are suffering skin cancer, experts say
• Unexplained weight loss is a red flag for a number of forms of the disease, including liver cancer which claimed the life of David Bowie, aged 69
• Difficulty swallowing, an unexplained lump, unexplained bleeding and changing bladder habits are also red flag symptoms
• Persistent pain could be a sign of pancreatic cancer, that killed actor Alan Rickman - as well as many other forms of the disease
• Experts advise anyone displaying 1 or more red flags to visit their doctor  

By LIZZIE PARRY

A persistent cough, a sore that refuses to heal, unexplained weight loss and changing bladder habits.

They may seem innocuous, irritating facts of life.

But experts warn people not to dismiss them and six other key changes in the body, for fear they could be a sign of something far more sinister.

The 10 red flags for cancer are ingrained in the minds of doctors and healthcare workers the world over. 

But on World Cancer Day, experts are reminding members  of the public to familiarise themselves with the key symptoms, in a bid to save lives.

Currently 8.2 million people die from the disease across the world each year - 4.7 million men and 3.5 million women.

Of those, four million deaths are premature, those people aged 30 to 69 years old.

In many cases early diagnosis can mean the difference between life and death for cancer patients.

A survey by researchers on behalf of Cancer Research UK last year found almost half of those displaying at least one red flag for cancer did not visit their GP, thinking their symptoms 'trivial'.

Among the signs are unexplained weight loss, which can indicate a number of forms of the disease, including liver cancer, which claimed the life of icon and singer David Bowie in January aged just 69.

Days later actor Alan Rickman lost his battle with pancreatic cancer, also aged just 69. One symptom of that disease - and other forms - is persistent and unexplained pain, experts say. 

If you or a member of your family is suffering at least one of these 10 red flag symptoms, experts advise you book an appointment with a doctor straight away:

1. A persistent cough

Red flag for... lung cancer

Most lung cancers do not cause any symptoms until they have spread too far to be cured.

But, symptoms do occur in some people in the early stages of lung cancer.

A new cough that does not go away, or changes in a chronic cough or 'smoker's cough' can be an early indication of the disease.

In addition, chest pain linked to coughing, deep breathing or lauging as well as hoarseness and coughing up blood are early warning signs.

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Unexplained weight loss can be a sign of various forms of cancer, including liver cancer - the disease which claimed the life of icon David Bowie aged just 69 last month

2. A change in the appearance of a mole

Red flag for... skin cancer

Melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, can appear anywhere on the body, but they most commonly appear on the back, legs, arms and face and even underneath a nail.

Though less common, they often spread to other organs in the body, making them more deadly.

The most common sign is the appearance of a new mole or a change in an existing mole.

Signs to look out for include a mole that is:

• getting bigger 
• changing shape 
• changing colour 
• bleeding or becoming crusty 
• itchy or painful

A helpful way to tell the difference between a normal mole and a melanoma is the 'ABCDE' checklist:

Asymmetrical – melanomas have two very different halves and are an irregular shape.

Border – melanomas have a notched or ragged border.

Colours – melanomas will be a mix of two or more colours.

Diameter – melanomas are often larger than 6mm (1/4 inch) in diameter.

Enlargement or elevation – a mole that changes size over time is more likely to be a melanoma.

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A changed mole can indicate a person has skin cancer (picture posed by model)

3. A persistent chance in bowel habits

Red flag for... bowel cancer

The three main symptoms of bowel cancer are blood in the stools or faeces, a change in bowel habit, such as going more frequently, or having looser stools, and abdominal pain.

However, these symptoms are very common, and can easily be attributed to other conditions.

As the vast majority of people diagnosed with bowel cancer are over the age of 60, these symptoms become more important with age.

Most patients with the disease will present to their doctor with one of the following symptoms combinations:

• a persistent change in bowel habit, causing a person to go to the toilet more often and pass looser stools, together with blood on or in the stools 
• a persistent change in bowel habit without blood in their stools, but with abdominal pain 
• blood in the stools without other haemorrhoid symptoms, such as soreness, discomfort, pain, itching, or a lump hanging down outside the rectum 
• abdominal pain, discomfort or bloating always provoked by eating, and sometimes resulting in a reduction in the amount eaten and weight loss
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4. A sore that doesn't heal

Red flag for... many types of cancer

A sore or ulcer in the mouth that fails to heal is the most common symptoms of mouth cancer, according to the Cancer Treatment Centers of America.

Furthermore persistent pain in the mouth can also be a sign.

As for the rest of the body, experts at Cancer Research UK say a person should seek advise from a doctor if a spot, wart or sore doesn't heal after several weeks, even if it is painless.

The skin repairs itself very quickly and any damage should typically heal within a week or so. 

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Abdominal pain can indicate pancreatic cancer, the disease which killed actor Alan Rickman, pictured as the Sheriff of Nottingham, right, last month, also aged 69. Persistent, unexplained pain can be a sign of a number of other forms of the disease as well

5. A persistent difficulty swallowing

Red flag for... oesophageal cancer

A number of medical conditions can make it difficult to swallow. 

But if you are having difficulty swallowing and the problem doesn’t go away after a couple of weeks, it should be checked out. 

The key sign of oesophageal cancer is a difficulty swallowing. This problem may contribute to weight loss, which can also indicate the disease is present.

6. Unexplained weight loss

Red flag for... a number of cancers

Most people with cancer will lose weight at some point. 

When you lose weight for no known reason, it’s called an unexplained weight loss, according to the American Cancer Society.

An unexplained weight loss of 10 pounds or more may be the first sign of cancer. 

This happens most often with cancers of the pancreas, stomach, esophagus (swallowing tube), or lung. 

Experts at Cancer Research UK add that small weight changes over time are quite normal, but if you lose a noticeable amount of weight without trying to, tell your doctor.

7. A persistent change in bladder habits

Red flag for... bladder or prostate cancer 

Problems urinating can include needing to pee urgently, more frequently, being unable to go when you need to, or experiencing pain. 

These symptoms can all be caused by conditions other than cancer, but it’s important to tell your doctor if you experience any of them. 

A slow or weak urinary stream, or the need to urinate more often, especially at night, can indicate prostate cancer specifically.

Blood in the urine is also a sign.

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A persistent change in bladder habits can indicate a person is suffering bladder cancer, pictured under the microscope. In men, the symptom can also be a sign of prostate cancer

With bladder cancer, the disease can cause changes in urination, including having to urinate more often, pain or burning during urination and feeling as if you need to go right away, even if the bladder is not full. 

These symptoms are also more likely to be caused by a benign condition such as infection, bladder stones, an overactive bladder, or an enlarged prostate (in men). 

But, it is important to have them checked by a doctor so that the cause can be found and treated, if needed.

YOUR CHANCE OF SURVIVAL 

BREAST CANCER: 96 per cent of women survive for at least one year, 87 per cent do so for five years, and 78 per cent for a decade.

SKIN CANCER: 88 per cent of men survive for five years or more. For women the figures are even better, with 92 per cent predicted to survive for at least five years.

LUNG CANCER: Just 8 per cent of men survive for five years or more, compared with 12 per cent of women.

PROSTATE CANCER: Some 85 per cent of patients survive for five years or more.

BOWEL CANCER: 59 per cent of men survive for five years or more. For women, the figure is 58 per cent.

8. An unexplained lump

Red flag for...  many types of cancer

A great many cancers can be felt through the skin, though typically they occur in the breast, testicle, lymph nodes and soft tissues of the body.  

A lump or thickening of tissue can be an early sign of the disease, but it can also indicate some forms of the disease are in an advanced stage.

You should visit a doctor, especially if you have just found a lump or noticed a lump has grown in size.

The American Cancer Society note that some breast cancers can show up as red or thickened skin rather than a lump.  

9. Persistent, unexplained pain

Red flag for...  many types of cancer

Pain can present in the early stages of a number of cancers, but especially with bone and testicular cancers.

A headache that will not go away or get better with treatment can be a sign of a brain tumor.

Furthermore, back pain can indicate cancer of the colon, rectum, or ovary.

In most cases, where pain is felt and cancer is diagnosed it is an indication that the disease has spread from its primary location in the body.

10. Unexplained bleeding

Red flag for... many types of cancer, namely bowel, cervical or vulval cancer

In both the early and late stages of the disease, unexplained bleeding can occur.

Coughing up blood can be a sign of lung cancer, while blood in the stool is an indication of colon or rectal cancer.

Cancer of the cervix or the endometrium - the lining of the uterus - can cause abnormal vaginal bleeding.

Blood in the urine can indicate a person is suffering bladder, kidney or prostate cancer.

And a bloody discharge from the nipple may be a sign of breast cancer.