About 1,000 Waltham Forest residents are diagnosed with cancer every year – but only 57.2 per cent of cases are detected at an early stage, NHS figures have revealed.

On World Cancer Day – February 4 – the borough’s doctors are urging people to “act now” and visit a GP if they are concerned about possible cancer symptoms.

When a cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, and treated, the chance of survival beyond five years is far higher than at a later stage when the disease has spread.

Doctors are asking residents to be wary of symptoms such as the sudden appearance of a lump, blood in your urine, or a change to usual bowel habits.

Four in ten cancer cases can be prevented through healthier lifestyle choices including stopping smoking – 12 per cent of people in the borough smoke.

Keeping a healthy weight, being safe in the sun, drinking less alcohol and eating a high fibre diet can also help prevent cancer.

Dr Nazia Hussain, GP and cancer lead for NHS Waltham Forest Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “The vast majority of cancers see a significantly improved chance of survival when they are spotted early.

“The sad fact is that many lives could be saved if people visited their GP at the first sign of the disease. Many seem to fear that they are wasting their GP’s time by seeing them when ‘it’s probably nothing’. We want to make clear that this isn’t the case – no GP visit is ever wasted when a symptom is present, even if it is ultimately harmless.

“We also strongly encourage lifestyle changes that can significantly reduce the risk of certain cancers. Around 27 percent of cancer deaths come from tobacco and alcohol use, meaning stopping smoking and reducing your alcohol intake can make a big difference.”