Cancer is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide.

In 2012, 14,000,000 new cases of cancer were diagnosed and 8,200,000 people died from cancer.

Despite these shocking numbers, people continue to ignore warning signs that could indicate cancer..

These are the results of a study conducted by scientists from the UK.

Study lead author Dr. Katriina Whitaker, research fellow at University College London, analyzed responses from 1,724 respondents aged 50 and over.. All were interviewed in April 2012.

The questionnaires asked whether respondents experienced any of 17 symptoms, 10 of which the Cancer Research UK classifies as "

These symptoms include:.

•Unexplained cough.

•Change in the appearance of moles.

•Unexplained bleeding.

•Long stool change.

• Difficulty swallowing.

•Unexplained weight loss.

• Enlargement of lymph nodes, etc..

Participants in the study were not told which of the 17 symptoms were dangerous..

The scientists also asked respondents what disease they considered the cause of their symptoms (if any), as well as whether they were serious about them and whether they intended to visit a doctor..

Only 2% of respondents take cancer-related symptoms seriously.

At the same time, the results of a study published in PLOS ONE revealed that 53% of participants experienced at least one symptom that could indicate cancer in the last 3 months..

Some facts about cancer:.

• Over the next 20 years, the number of new cases of cancer in the world will increase by 70%.

• The sad leader in the number of deaths in the world belongs to lung cancer, from which about 1,590,000 people died in 2012 alone.

•More than 60% of new cancer cases are in Africa, Asia, Central and South America.

The most common warning signs of cancer are coughing and change in stool.. Unexplained weight loss, contrary to popular belief, is considered a rarer sign.

The authors of the latest study were amazed when they analyzed the results. It turned out that only 2% of respondents take seriously the symptoms that may indicate cancer and with which you should definitely consult a doctor.

Dr. Whitaker says participants who reported the most troubling symptoms, such as unexplained swollen lymph nodes or changing moles, didn't see them as a possible sign of cancer..

“Even when people have severe symptoms, they don’t tend to think about cancer. This may be due to the fact that people are intimidated and afraid to even mention this word.. They think that this terrible thing will never befall them, and they believe in other reasons,” says Dr. Whitaker..

But it is not all that bad. Most respondents understand the importance of seeking timely medical attention for life-threatening symptoms (e.g. shortness of breath). 59% of them visited a doctor for such symptoms.

Despite some positives, scientists have concluded that most Britons overlook the warning signs of cancer and put themselves in great danger..

Dr. Whitaker said: “Most people with possible symptoms of cancer do not actually have cancer, but some may have cancer on examination..

That's why it's so important to get checked in the hospital, especially if the symptoms persist for a long time.. But people delay seeing a doctor because they don't see cancer as a possible cause."

Dr Sara Hiom, Director of Early Diagnosis at Cancer Research UK, adds: “Most cases of cancer are discovered during visits to a GP for strange symptoms.. This Study Shows Huge Opportunities for Early Diagnosis Are Being Missed. These results may help us find new ways to inform people and encourage them to visit a doctor.”.

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