Leukemia is a type of blood cancer. Although there are different blood cells (white cells, platelets, red blood cells), leukemia generally refers to cancers that affect the white blood cells. White blood cells are essential to fight infections and build up your immune system. When the white cells don’t function as well, our immune defenses become weakened, and we are more susceptible to getting infections, and becoming more unwell from them. Leukemia is fairly common among adults, with over 60,000 new cases diagnosed in the US each year. Age is a big factor, with those aged 65-74 years being more commonly diagnosed. While not many children get cancer, leukemia is one that frequently affects them – it behaves quite differently for them, so we’ll address that elsewhere.

All women aged between 21 and 65 are recommended to get cervical screening in the US. Also called a smear test or pap test, it’s a test aiming to prevent cancer rather than a test for whether you have cancer. It checks for a certain virus that can disrupt the cells of the cervix (the opening to your womb from your vagina). If you have the virus, the cells of the cervix can then be checked for any changes that could, with time, lead to cervical cancer. Rescreening is recommended every 3 years. After the age of 65 you’ll only need screening if your last test was abnormal or if you’re in a higher risk group (HIV positive, weakened immune system, exposed to diethylstilbesterol \[DES\] before birth). Cervical cancer is not one of the most common cancers, but it is common in young women, usually affecting those in their early 30s. Once you have cervical cancer, treatment can be difficult and threaten your fertility and your overall health. But it's considered 99.8% preventable, so it's worth keeping up with your cervical screenings.

Every woman in the US is entitled to breast cancer screening. This starts from the age of 50, and continues up to your 74th birthday. You’ll be invited every two years, and they'll use your age and contact details from your doctor's records. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the US, and every 1 in 8 women is diagnosed in their lifetime. The risk grows with age, hence the screening starting at 50. It can occur in men, as they have breast tissue too, but it’s much rarer, so they are not included in the screening program.

Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in the US. Early detection gives a good chance for treatment to work, and to help prevent the cancer from spreading, not only through the bowel but also to other parts of the body, which carries a risk of death. The chance of bowel cancer increases as we get older, so guidelines recommend to start screening from 45-50 years old.

A squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is usually a firm pink or red lump and typically occurs in sun-exposed areas like the face, ears, forearms and hands, shoulder, upper chest, and back. It might feel tender to press, it may develop a solid horny lump sticking up, and it can sometimes ulcerate, giving a wet appearance. This grows slowly over weeks, months, or even years. It usually occurs in people over 50, in response to years of sun damage. While skin cancers all develop in response to sun damage, and similar risk factors make some more susceptible than others, there are different types of skin cancer. Melanoma is the most well-known but the least common. This is where a new mole appears or an existing mole changes. SCC is a different process and doesn't usually start as a mole.

Testicular lumps are more common than you would think and can be caused by a variety of things. The majority of these are nothing serious, but they should always be checked out by your doctor. This is because a small number of cases may be cancerous. The good news is the survival rate for testicular cancer is high, especially when caught early and treated. Healthwords advises that anyone with testicles should remember to check them at least once a month. This is different from prostate cancer.

We have all grown more aware of the dangers of sun exposure in recent years, with the threat of sun damage altering our appearance and the risk of skin cancer. There are different types of skin cancer, but there are some rules of thumb to follow for any mole, whether it’s new or existing. Let's take you through when to be concerned.