Four red flag signs of ‘silent killer’ condition that affects thousands of Brits

A rare form of cancer, which can take years to diagnose and has symptoms that could be mistaken for less serious illnesses, is affecting thousands of Brits who are dismissing vital signs.

Cancer, which is a deadly disease characterised by abnormal cell growth and division, can spread to other tissues and organs. There are over 200 types of cancer, some more recognisable than others due to their more obvious symptoms, reports the Express.

One such lesser-known type is thyroid cancer, with the NHS urging people to be vigilant for any warning signs.

Despite being a rare form of cancer, it still accounts for around 3,800 new diagnoses in the UK every year, according to Cancer Research UK.

Identifying whether you have thyroid cancer can be challenging as many of its symptoms are vague and can resemble other less serious conditions. This means you could unknowingly have thyroid cancer for months or even years.

The thyroid gland, located in the neck just in front of the windpipe, is responsible for creating hormones that regulate the body’s metabolism – the process of converting food into energy. Thyroid cancer develops in this gland, hence the most common symptoms of the disease affect the neck and throat.

There are other symptoms that could be easily mistaken for something else or ignored. According to the NHS, these include:

• A red face (flushing) – this may be harder to see on brown or black skin
• Softer poos or diarrhoea
• Weight loss
• A cough

The MD Anderson Cancer Center notes that patients diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer, the main type of thyroid cancer, “often have symptoms that they dismiss for years” until receiving a diagnosis.