With 44,000 more people diagnosed with cancer each year in Ireland, the outlook is more optimistic than ever. Survival rates for breast, bowel, prostate, testicular, and melanoma cancers have improved significantly in recent years, thanks to national screening programs such as BreastCheck, CervicalCheck, and BowelScreen, and the continued emergence of newer and better treatments.
Screening programs have proven successful, as good outcomes remain highly dependent on early diagnosis. “Early detection saves lives,” says Kevin O’Hagan, cancer prevention manager at the Irish Cancer Society. “If the cancer has not spread and is easy to treat, survival rates are generally much higher.”
Unfortunately, too many cases are still discovered at a later stage, after the cancer has spread to multiple organs. According to data from the Irish National Cancer Registry, 39% of lung cancers and 47% of pancreatic cancers are detected at stage 4, and a third of all ovarian cancers are detected at stage 3.
Kathryn Murphy, a cancer nurse who works at the Marie Keating Foundation, says: “If I could give all Irish people one piece of advice about cancer, it would be that cancer doesn’t always cause obvious symptoms to begin with, which is why it’s important to notice small changes.”
However, many of us tend to overlook these obvious signs. Ms Murphy, who works in communities in the west of Ireland, regularly speaks to patients about why they didn’t come forward and seek medical attention sooner, but she says the most common explanations are either they didn’t want to bother doctors or they ignored their initial concerns because they were “feeling great most of the day”.
“These delays are one of the biggest reasons why cancer diagnoses are delayed longer than necessary,” Murphy said.
So what are the important red flag symptoms to look out for? Here are the nine most commonly cited by experts.
“Nine out of 10 breast lumps are benign,” she says.
“But you can’t tell what a lump is just by feeling it. New lumps, swelling, and thickening, especially those that don’t go away, grow, or feel different from the surrounding tissue, should be evaluated by a medical professional.”
RCSI general practitioner and associate professor Patrick Redmond said certain breast symptoms, such as swelling, are common and part of the hormonal cycle that women often experience. But especially so, he says.
It is important to be careful about anything that leaves or feels abnormal in your body. “At the end of the day, it’s all about the feeling of knowing what’s right for you,” he says. “If the swelling or lump persists, it should be checked out.”
However, many people delay seeing a doctor because the bleeding is painless or intermittent. “The cause can be an infection, inflammation, or a condition such as hemorrhoids, but it can also be an early sign of cancer,” says Murphy. “If you have unexplained bleeding, even if it only happened once, you should talk to your doctor.”
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in Ireland, with around 11,000 people diagnosed each year. We all get moles, but it’s difficult to distinguish between harmless ones and potentially cancerous ones.
Mr. Redmond recommends the ABCD rule that he describes. A represents asymmetry, B represents border irregularity, C represents color, and D represents diameter.
“When someone is examined, we look to see if the mole has symmetry, what the border looks like, and if there is a color change,” he explains.
Moles that bleed, have jagged edges, vary in color (especially white or blue), are wider than a pencil eraser, or appear asymmetrical are concerning and should be examined by a health care professional.
Pancreatic cancer-like symptoms are often accompanied by symptoms such as jaundice and yellowing of the skin, but these signs tend to appear only at a later stage when the cancer has progressed.
Instead, early signs of conditions such as lung and pancreatic cancer are often vague and subtle, such as sudden or intermittent loss of appetite, O’Hagan explains.
This is because the presence of an ongoing tumor can cause the body to secrete chemicals that suppress appetite.
Never ignore persistent changes in your bowel movements, whether they occur more or less frequently, or if you always feel like you’re not having a bowel movement. Especially since bowel cancer is the second most common cancer in Ireland, with around 2,500 people diagnosed each year.
“It can be awkward to talk about poop, but missing an early diagnosis is far worse. Rest assured that your doctor or nurse will have heard everything beforehand,” says Murphy.
There is no national lung cancer screening service in Ireland, but a pilot program was launched in March 2025.
Approximately 2,740 Irish people are diagnosed with the disease each year, with a five-year survival rate of just 24%.
Professor O’Hagan said there was a common misconception that only smokers get lung cancer, but in reality people should see a doctor if they have a new cough that lasts for more than three weeks, a sudden change in cough, or shortness of breath.
“Everyone notices a cough from time to time, but it’s a persistent cough. [we need to watch]” says Murphy.
“If you have chest or shoulder pain, shortness of breath for more than three weeks, or cough, you should see a doctor.
“Some people may be reluctant to see a doctor for chest symptoms, especially if they are or have previously smoked, but let’s be clear: doctors and nurses are here to support and help you.”
After a late night or a busy week, anyone can feel tired, especially middle-aged people who are juggling the pressures of work and raising children. However, persistent severe fatigue is one of the main common symptoms of cancer and is caused by the cancer depleting energy, disrupting sleep, and possibly causing anemia.
Murphy says it’s important to understand that cancer-related fatigue is very different from normal fatigue.
“It can be a deep, constant feeling of fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest or sleep, and can make daily work seem like a chore,” she says.
“Talking to your doctor about persistent fatigue, especially if accompanied by other symptoms such as weight loss, night sweats, and shortness of breath, may lead to tests that can detect cancer early.”
Redmond says many cases of fatigue can be explained by causes other than cancer, but if it’s different from your normal weekly fatigue, it’s worth getting tested. “For most people, there’s nothing wrong with it, but an initial GP assessment with some baseline blood tests is a good filter to find out what’s going on,” he says.
Losing weight without effort may sound like a welcome change to most people, but in reality, it’s an important warning sign that something is very wrong with your body.
“It can occur when the body is using more energy than normal or cannot absorb nutrients properly. This can occur with certain cancers,” Murphy says.
Basically, if you’re losing a lot of weight in a short period of time without actively trying a new diet, it’s important to talk to your doctor. “There are many non-cancer causes, but if you notice that your clothes are getting looser or the number on the scale is dropping even though you haven’t changed your diet or exercise, you should always check it,” says Murphy.
- If you have any questions or concerns about cancer, please call the Irish Cancer Society support line toll free on 1800 200 700 or visit: cancer.ie