Many people miss the chance of early cancer diagnosis which can save lives. Whether due to stigma, ignorance or fear, many symptoms are often overlooked.

According to Macmillan Cancer Support more than 400,000 people are diagnosed with cancer each year in the UK. On average someone in the UK is diagnosed with cancer at least every 90 seconds.

The charity says it is estimated that almost 3.5m people are living with cancer in the UK. However, every year, around 167,000 people die from the disease - that is an average of 460 people every day.

But an early diagnosis can vastly increase the chance of survival in people who do have cancer. But according to Dr Gareth Nye , Lecturer and Researcher at the University of Salford there is one room in the house which can be an ideal place to keep an eye on your health.

He has linked with bathroom experts Victorian Plumbing to raised awareness of how to spot these health issues. And many forms of the potentially deadly disease can be easily seen from a visit to your bathroom.

For example of all prostate cancer symptoms on the NHS website, 100% can be found in the bathroom. And despite lumps which could be a symptom of breast or testicular cancer being easily discovered in the shower just one in 10 men or women carry out a simple check for them, a survey of 500 people found.

Dr Nye said: "“The best way to check for abnormalities is to understand what is normal for you, in essence, you need to be regularly checking yourself throughout your life to notice anything abnormal."

He added: "It is incredibly vital you are regularly checking your whole body for changes. The earlier you notice the better your outcome if it is something serious. Being active and aware is your biggest tool in staying happy and healthy.

"There are very few times during the day when you are fully undressed, have time and have access to warm water or scales. There is a wide range of valuable information that can be looked at whilst in the bathroom more than anywhere else.”

Experts say 86% of male-specific conditions have symptoms more noticeable in the bathroom and 82% of female-specific conditions. The expert outlined some key cancers and other health issues which can be spotted in the bathroom.

Breast or testicular cancer

"Understanding your breasts or testicles normally is one of the easiest places to start." advised the doctor. "It's key to be able to feel any new lumps or growths. Look for changes in shape, size or colouration of the breast and areola."

Skin cancer

Dr Nye said: "Skin changes or moles are another very common issue which can be monitored easily. You should be aware of the moles on your body and be looking for any changes in terms of shape, size and colour.

"Any new mole, moles which have irregular edges, or are not symmetrical, should be assessed by a healthcare professional."

Prostate, bowel and bladder cancer

"Whilst in the bathroom, taking time to understand your bowel and bladder can be key to early issue detection," he warned. "Being aware of how frequently you are going to the toilet is important as well as noting the amount, colour, and consistency of the product."

Bleeding

Dr Nye said: "For women, understanding what is a normal menstrual period and loss is useful to help establish any changes. Bleeding out of your monthly cycle or particularly heavy bleeding may suggest underlying issues."

Victorian Plumbing quizzed 500 people on their bathroom habits and found almost half spend less than 10 minutes in the shower. Unusual bleeding or bruising and changes in urine colour were both male and female's top three concerning symptoms while changes in urination frequency, hair loss, and unexpected weight changes were the symptoms they worried least about.

Alex Woods, bathroom expert at Victorian Plumbing says: “The data shows that Brits are more often than not, not checking for any health-related abnormalities regularly, and also not allowing themselves the time to do so. We live in a fast-paced world, but the evidence shows that checking yourself is the only thing between you and an early diagnosis.

"Here at Victorian Plumbing, we are more than aware of how a bathroom serves you; it’s more than a toilet and shower, it’s a place for you to care for yourself in solitude. If our findings provide you with anything, we’d hope to enlighten you to take just a minute and check yourself for any symptoms you may previously have ignored.”