Early diagnosis of cancer is an important factor in increasing success in treatment. Nursing and nursing students who take care of the patient in clinical area practices can have a major impact on the disease by providing early diagnosis of the cancer. Limited study was explored awareness of nursing student about the warning signs of cancer.

A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted from January-March 2019. The sample size was measured Raosoft online calculator programme. A total of 460 nursing students participated in this study. Data was was obtained from nursing student via self-report using the data collection form developed by researchers based on literature. The Chi-square test was performed to evaluate differences among groups.

The mean age of the nursing students was 20.05 ± 2.04; most of the students were female (82.6%). The knowledge level of warning signs of cancer of the students who were female was significantly higher than male students; as following; the symptoms of change in bowel or bladder habits (p = 0.001); unusual bleeding or discharge (p = 0.01); thickening or lump in the breast or elsewhere (p = 0.004); indigestion or difficulty in swallowing (p = 0.002); obvious change in a wart or mole (p = 0.003); nagging cough or hoarseness (p = 0.04). The knowledge level of warning signs of cancer of the students who took ’Internal Medicine Nursing’ lesson was significantly higher than others; as following; the symptoms of change in bowel or bladder habits (p = 0.000); a sore that doesn’t heal (p = 0.002); unusual bleeding or discharge (p = 0.03); indigestion or difficulty in swallowing (p = 0.000); obvious change in a wart or mole (p = 0.000); nagging cough or hoarseness (p = 0.001).

It is thought that the majority of nursing students know warning signs of the cancer and are associated with the education given in ’Internal Medicine Nursing’. It is recommended that nursing students take part in early diagnosis and screening programs in cancer. Female nursing students more aware than male students. Because; cancer prevention campaigns have focused breast and cervical cancer which involves only females. Cancer prevention campaigns should be organized for lung, prostate and colorectal cancer which are more common in men.