THERE are two types of people in the world: those who love Christmas wrapping and those who hate it.
Whether you take pride in pretty paper and perfect folds or shove presents in gift bags, you will probably spend some of your Christmas wrapping stuff up.
Gift wrapping means lots of time spent staring down at your hands – perfect for checking out moles
And while you’re sorting out gifts, some potential cancer symptoms might arise.
The NHS says: “Finding cancer early means it’s easier to treat.
“It’s important to be aware of any new or worrying symptoms.
“Although it’s unlikely to be cancer, it’s important to speak to a GP so they can investigate.”
Here are some symptoms that might crop up this festive season.
1. Fatigue
For many, wrapping gift after gift can be mind-numbing and make you pretty sleepy.
On top of that, Christmas is a pretty exhausting time of year, full of socialising, late nights and, for some, lots of booze.
So it’s perfectly normal that you’d feel more tired than usual.
But if you can’t pin your fatigue to a clear reason and always feel that way, it could be a sign that something is wrong.
Fatigue may be a symptom of blood cancers, such as leukaemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma.
This is because these cancers start in the bone marrow, which produces red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout the body.
2. Croaky voice
3. Shaky hands
4. Blurred vision
5. Forgetfulness
6. Skin changes
Gift wrapping means lots of time spent staring down at your hands.
If you notice a new spot on your hands or wrists, a cut that doesn’t heal or something that looks like a wart, even if painless, a doctor must check it.
Similarly, you should be aware of any new or existing moles that change in size, shape or colour, become crusty, itch, hurt, bleed or ooze.
Any unusual change in a patch of skin or a nail, whether it’s a new change or has been there for a while, should be checked out by your doctor.
7. Unexplained pain or aches
It’s normal to experience more pain the older we get.
Especially while we sat on the floor, hunched over gifts and wrapping paper.
However, unexplained pain can be a sign of bone cancer, according to Cancer Research UK.
The disease usually begins with a feeling of tenderness in the affected bone, which turns into a persistent ache or an ache that comes and goes.
The pain can sometimes be wrongly mistaken for arthritis in adults and growing pains in children and teenagers.
8. Sweating
We all know wrapping can be pretty exhausting, especially if you have a mountain of gifts.
But it shouldn’t leave you sweating.
Hot flushes – can sometimes indicate an infection or the menopause.
It is also a symptom of several types of cancer, including leukaemia, lymphoma, mesothelioma, and cancer of the liver and bone.