Cancer treatments have come on leaps and bounds over recent years but it is still vital to spot it early to have the best chance of beating it. While some have better known or more obvious symptoms others are what is known as “silent” or “hidden” cancers.

This is because the signs and symptoms can easily be mistaken for other, often less serious, issues. Some, such as being tired, can easily be put down to a busy lifestyle or getting older while others overlap with different illnesses such as aches and pains.

However this means many of them are only spotted when they are advanced, making them harder to treat. These include bowel, cervical, liver, lung, ovarian, prostate and pancreatic cancer.

Dr Ahmed El-Modir, consultant oncologist at Spire Little Aston Hospital has explained these seven “silent” cancers. And he has looked at the things which can make you more likely to develop them.

Bowel cancer

More than 44,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer in the UK every year, according to Cancer Research UK. While it is treatable when caught early figures from the charity show just over half of sufferers will survive 10 years, killing more than 16,800 every year.

More than nine out of 10 new cases are found in people over the age of 50. However over half could be prevented, says the charity.

Dr El-Modir explains that bowel cancer is cancer of the large intestines (large bowel). This include your colon and rectum and depending on where it starts, it’s also known as colon cancer or rectal cancer.

He said: “Common symptoms include persistent abdominal pain, bloating, cramps and changes in your bowel habits (eg constipation, diarrhoea or thinner stools). You may also notice blood in your stools, have the urge to open your bowels even after recently passing stools, and unintentionally lose weight.”

Who is at risk?

Dr El-Modir warns age is the biggest risk factor, increasing as you get older. Other risks include having a family member who developed the illness under the age of 50 and for smoker or those who drink heavily or have a sedentary lifestyle.

Researchers also previously found a link between sugar-sweetened drinks and bowel cancer. It found adults, especially women, drinking two or more a day are “doubling” the risk of bowel cancer before they hit 50.

It found soft drinks, fruit flavoured drinks and sports and energy drinks were all a significant threat.

Cervical cancer

Figures from Cancer Research UK, show there are more than 3,200 cases of cervical cancer in the UK every year, with around 850 deaths from the disease. Half of those diagnosed will survive 10 years or more – but almost all cases are preventable, says the charity.

All women over the age of 25 are offered regular cervical screening to test for human papillomavirus (HPV) infection – which is one of the main causes, said the oncologist. Dr El-Modir added: “Common symptoms include vaginal bleeding in between your periods, during or after sex and after menopause, heavier periods, changes to your vaginal discharge, pain during sex and pain in your lower back, lower abdomen and pelvic area.”.

Who is at risk?

Those under 45 and with a weakened immune system are at greatest risk said Dr El-Modir. He also warned your are at greater risk of cervical cancer if you’ve given birth to children before age 17, had multiple births, have not been vaccinated against HPV or previously had bladder, kidney, vaginal or vulval cancer

Liver cancer

Every year almost 6,600 people are diagnosed with liver cancer in the UK. But with a 10-year survival rate of just eight per cent it means it kills more than 5,800 sufferers a year, says Cancer Research UK.

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Dr El-Modir explained that the cancer can affect any part of your liver, which is found above your stomach on the right side of your body. Many symptoms of the disease relate to digestion issues such as nausea, vomiting, paler stools, darker urine and feeling full after eating only a small amount of food.

He said: “You may notice a lump on the top right side of your abdomen, feel pain in this area, and experience abdominal swelling that isn’t caused by eating.”

He said other symptoms to watch for include jaundice, where the whites of your eyes become yellow, pain in your right shoulder, unintentional weight loss, loss of appetite, fatigue, fever and feeling unwell.

Who is at risk?

According to the oncologist the risk of liver cancer is higher if you are male, have a close relative (sibling or parent) who had it, or are aged over 60. You are also at increased risk if you have diabetes, gallstones, hepatitis, HIV, liver cirrhosis or are infected with liver flukes (small parasites), he said.

Lung cancer

More than 49,200 people are diagnosed with lung cancer in the UK every year, according to the Cancer Research UK figures. It will kill almost 35,000 people every year – more than one in five of all cancer deaths – making it the biggest cancer killer in the UK.

Dr El-Modir said symptoms include a persistent cough, breathlessness when performing activities that usually aren’t a strain, coughing up blood, fatigue, loss of appetite, pain in your chest or shoulders, repeated or persistent chest infections, and unintentional weight loss.

Who is at risk?

Dr El-Modir says seven out of 10 cases of lung cancer are caused by smoking. However there are other causes.

He said: “Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is more common among smokers, is also a major risk factor. Other risk factors for lung cancer include frequently breathing in diesel fumes and other toxic chemicals, such as arsenic, asbestos, coal fumes and silica.

“Exposure to high levels of radon gas, which is found in nature but can become concentrated in buildings, also increases your risk of developing lung cancer.”

Ovarian cancer

Every year there are more than 7,500 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer in thre UK and more than 4,100 deaths to the disease, says Cancer Research UK. The oncologist explained that ovarian cancer refers to cancer of the egg-producing organs in women (ovaries) and many symptoms overlap with those felt during a period.

Dr El-Modir said these include bloating, back pain, fatigue and persistent pain or tenderness in your pelvic area. He added: “Other symptoms include constipation, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, feeling full after eating only a small amount, unintentional weight loss, sudden urges to urinate and urinating more often.”

Who is at risk?

The doctor said those most at risk are women aged over 45. Those with diabetes or endometriosis, women carrying faulty BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes and those with a close female relative (mother or sister) who had ovarian cancer are also at risk.

Others include smokers and those who are overweight while taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to treat menopause also have a greater chance of developing the disease..

Pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer affects any part of your pancreas, which lies behind your stomach where your ribs meet at the bottom of your breastbone. There are almost 10,800 new cases of the disease diagnosed every year but with poor survival rates it kills more than 9,550. Just 5% of those with the disease will survive 10 years of more.

Dr El-Modir says many of the symptoms of pancreatic cancer relate to digestion, such as bloating, changes in your stools, constipation, diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting. He said: “You may also experience back pain and pain in your upper abdomen, which feel better when you lean forward and worse when you lie down or eat.

“Other symptoms include jaundice, where the whites of your eyes become yellow, unintentional weight loss, loss of appetite, fever and fatigue.”

Who is at risk?

Dr El-Modir warned your risk of pancreatic cancer is higher if you smoke, drink heavily, are overweight or aged over 75. He said: “Although most cases of pancreatic cancer do not run in families, you are at increased risk if a close relative (parent or sibling) had pancreatic cancer or if you carry a faulty BRCA2 gene.

“Certain medical conditions also increase your risk, including chronic (long-term) pancreatitis, diabetes, gallstones and metabolic syndrome.”

Prostate cancer

Cancer Research UK says there are more than 55,000 new cases of prostate cancer in the UK every year. However, while more than 12,000 people die from the cancer every year across the country almost eight in 10 will survive 10 years or more.

Dr El-Modir explained the cancer affects the prostate gland in men, which is a walnut-sized gland that makes the fluid part of semen. It is at the base of the bladder and surrounds the tube through which urine leaves your body.

The oncologist said symptoms of prostate cancer usually only appear once the tumour is large enough to press against the urethra. He said: “Symptoms include difficulty urinating, needing to urinate more often and the sensation that your bladder is not completely empty even after urinating.”

Who is at risk?

Prostate cancer is more common in men aged over 50, with most cases occurring in men aged 75–79. The risk increases as you get older but other factors include being overweight or obese, or if you have a close relative (father or brother) who had prostate cancer.

He added: “Men of Afro-Caribbean descent have a higher risk than Caucasian men, while men of Asian descent have a lower risk than Caucasian men.”