Experts reveal three 'whole body' cancer symptoms that could be mistaken for something else

When it comes to cancer, there are a lot of potential signs and symptoms out there.

Terrifyingly, many seemingly innocuous things could be a sign of cancer, but equally they could also be a sign of another health condition entirely.

Blood in your stool could be a sign of cancer, but it could also haemorrhoids - or you just had beetroot for dinner last night and forgot.

Confusions and subtleties like this are one of the many reasons why it's always a good idea to speak to a doctor if you are worried, as they are specifically trained to tell the difference between a red flag, and something that just looks like a red flag.

It's also worth remembering that there a lot of different types of cancer which can present with very different symptoms - lung cancer is not going to manifest in the same way as pancreatic cancer, for example.

So with that in mind, here are some common symptoms that could be something else, according to Cancer Research UK.

There are lots of signs of cancer out there (thianchai sitthikongsak/Getty)

Unexplained weight loss

Unexplained and sudden fluctuation in your weight is a very broad symptom which could also point to a lot of possibilities.

To be clear we're not talking about a small fluctuation here - that's normal - or if you've been working hard to lose weight with lifestyle changes.

This is when you lose a lot of weight quickly for seemingly no reason.

"Small weight changes over time are quite normal," Cancer Research UK said. "But if you or other people think you have lost a noticeable amount of weight when you aren't trying to, tell your doctor."

Many cancer signs could also be a different condition (Pramote Polyamate/Getty)

Fatigue

Fatigue is quite a general symptom and could mean a whole range of things from not getting enough sleep to depression.

But one possibility is cancer, Cancer Research UK observed.

"There are lots of reasons why you may feel more tired than usual, particularly if you're having trouble sleeping or are stressed," the charity said.

"But if you're feeling tired all the time, or if there is no clear reason you're feeling tired, speak to your doctor."

Heavy Night Sweats and Fever

If you are experiencing heavy sweats then this could mean many different things, but it is definitely worth speaking to a doctor.

Cancer Research UK said: "Sweating at night or having a high temperature (fever) can be caused by infections or a side effect of certain medications.

"It's also often experienced by women around the time of the menopause.

"But speak to your doctor if you have very heavy, drenching night sweats, or an unexplained fever."

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