Suffering bouts of back ache or the occasional twinge every now and then is fairly common - especially as we get older or if we've been exercising. And data from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence shows around 60 percent of adults report suffering from lower back pain at least once in their lives.

In the UK, back pain is the single largest cause of disability, with lower back pain accounting for 11 percent of all disabilities. Therefore, it is easy to overlook temporary back pain as something that isn’t much cause for concern.

But the NHS has warned that it could also be a sign of cancer and should be investigated in certain cases. Listing signs of the disease, the health body explains: “Speak to a GP if you have pain anywhere in your tummy or back and you’re not sure what’s causing it. This includes a dull pain that’s always there or a sharp pain that comes and goes.”

Doctor Marilyn Norton, an oncologist and haematologist at the Sharp Chula Vista Medical Centre in the US, warns that back pain is an often ignored sign of cancer. “Back pain isn’t commonly a symptom we see before someone is diagnosed with cancer,” she says.

"However, we often see patients ignore their back pain because they assume it is the same pain they have always had. Worsening back pain is a concern that should be brought to the attention of your physician.”

There are several types of cancer that can cause back pain.

Womb cancer

Also known as uterus cancer, the NHS says that “pain in your lower back or between your hip bones (pelvis)” can be a symptom.

Kidney cancer

A pain in your back, under your ribs that “does not go away” could signal kidney cancer, the NHS says.

Prostate cancer

Back pain is a sign of advanced prostate cancer, meaning the disease has spread to the back.

Testicular cancer

The NHS states that an ache or pain in your back or lower tummy could signal testicular cancer.

Lung cancer

This only occurs if the cancer has spread to the bones, Cancer Research UK says. The pain will usually appear in the lower back.

Breast cancer

Breast cancer can spread to the bones in the spine causing pressure on the spinal cord.

Spinal cord tumours

The Mayo Clinic describes this as back pain that “radiates” to other parts of your body. You should speak to your GP if you experience unexplained back pain, especially if combined with any of the following cancer symptoms:

  • Coughing, chest pain and breathlessness
  • Changes in bowel habits
  • Bloating
  • Bleeding
  • Lumps
  • Moles
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Tummy pain
  • Indigestion and heartburn
  • Itchy or yellow skin
  • Feeling tired and unwell