What red flag symptoms should prompt urgent referral for a patient wit

Guideline-aligned answer with reasoning, red flags and references. Clinically reviewed by Dr Kola Tytler MBBS CertHE MBA MRCGP.

Red flag symptoms that should prompt an urgent referral for a patient presenting with unintentional weight loss include:

Unexplained weight loss with abdominal pain in adults aged 40 and over, which warrants an urgent suspected cancer pathway referral .
Unexplained weight loss with rectal bleeding in adults under 50, which warrants an urgent suspected cancer pathway referral .
Unexplained weight loss in adults aged 50 and over, which warrants an urgent suspected cancer pathway referral .
Unexplained weight loss in adults aged 40 and over who have ever smoked, which warrants an urgent chest X-ray within 2 weeks .
Unexplained weight loss in adults aged 40 and over exposed to asbestos, which warrants an urgent chest X-ray within 2 weeks .
Unexplained weight loss with cough, fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, or appetite loss in adults aged 40 and over who have never smoked, which warrants an urgent chest X-ray within 2 weeks .
Unexplained weight loss with unexplained splenomegaly, which warrants consideration of a suspected cancer pathway referral .
Unexplained weight loss with unexplained lymphadenopathy, which warrants consideration of a suspected cancer pathway referral .

These symptoms are considered red flags indicating potential underlying malignancy and require urgent investigation or referral .

What red flag symptoms should prompt urgent referral for a patient with unintentional weight loss?