Cancer is believed to be the second most common cause of death after heart disease. Its symptoms can be similar to those of common diseases. For example, unexplained weight loss may be an indication of cancer. Typically, people ignore these early symptoms confusing them with other common conditions. Sometimes they are scared to consult a doctor.
It is very important to detect cancer before it spreads, as treatment is most effective when cancer is found early. For example, if a breast lump is found at an early stage by self-examination, timely treatment can result in long cancer-free survival. Always remember that every symptom could be explained by a harmless condition. Still, it is important to be aware of the following symptoms of cancer and get them investigated.
Unexplained loss of weight: Substances released by cancer cells can result in weight loss. This is non-specific and can also be the result of a prolonged infection. Still, an unexplained and unintended weight loss over a six-month period needs to be investigated.
Fatigue: Patients with cancer experience ongoing tiredness. This could be caused by aneamia (low number of red blood cells in your body) due to an underlying disease like colon cancer, etc. Fatigue increases as cancer progresses.
Pain: Continuous pain that does not go away in a few months and keeps on getting worse may result from cancer. Bony pain may be a sign of cancer of the bone or a cancer that has started from a place like the prostate and has now travelled to the bone.
A persistent cough or blood in the saliva: This is especially relevant for long-term smokers, and is a common sign of lung cancer. Infectious diseases like tuberculosis can also present this way.
Change in bowel habits or blood in the stool: Diarrhoea that does not go away, long-term constipation or change in the size of the stool (eg. Pencil thin stools) can signify colon cancer. Blood in the stools could be due to hemorrhoids, but even this needs to be investigated and treated by a doctor.
Blood in the urine: Blood in the urine is typically due to kidney stones or a urinary infection. However, blood in the urine not accompanied by pain can be a sign of bladder cancer.
Lump in any part of the body: Lumps in the breast may be non-cancerous, but still need to be evaluated thoroughly. Women are advised to conduct monthly breast examinations, especially if they have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer. Discharges from breasts are common, but if the discharge is bloody or only from one nipple, further evaluation is needed. Testicular cancer presents as a painless lump on the testicles. Many other cancers like those of the lymph nodes can present this way. Lumps most frequently are harmless and lymph nodes could be swollen due to an infection. A lump should be reported to your doctor if it is new and remains enlarged for more than a month or a previous lump that is rapidly growing in size.
Changes in a mole or a wart: Any mole or wart that changes in size, shape, colour or if its edges get irregular may be cancerous. This should be reported to your regular doctor or a skin doctor immediately.
Sores that do not heal: Sores normally heal quickly. If a sore fails to heal, it should be evaluated by a doctor. Non-healing mouth sores and persistent white or red patches in the mouth could be a sign of cancer. This is VERY IMPORTANT in patients who smoke or chew tobacco and should be evaluated as soon as possible.
Though these symptoms are non-specific, if they meet the “2P” criterion (That is, if they are persistent and progressive), you should seek medical advice. Do not be afraid to visit your doctor as early detection may make all the difference. It is never too late to quit smoking, tobacco chewing and excessive alcohol intake. Remember, prevention is always better than cure.
[…] Original post by sanjay’s views […]