Early cancer detection can save lives, yet recognizing its symptoms can be challenging. While some cancers don’t present with any symptoms at all, others can present with very unusual ones.
Fever and coughs could be symptoms that indicate you should visit a physician immediately, while others such as blood in your stool could indicate specific forms of cancer.
1. Weight loss
Cancer is an awful illness that can impact any part of the body, from eyes and nose to bones and organs. Although not always easy to spot, there are warning signs to watch out for, such as weight loss, sores or pain that won’t go away and extreme fatigue. Although symptoms will depend on which form of cancer you have, all are worth discussing with a physician as soon as possible.
Fatigue is a symptom of many health conditions, but extreme fatigue that does not improve with rest may be an indicator of cancer. Abrupt changes to appetite or feeling full even though you have barely eaten should also prompt one to consult their physician immediately.
2. Changes in the appearance of your skin
Early warning signs of cancer can be difficult to recognize as they may resemble something else entirely. A lump or mass that feels hard and has changed shape, color or size could be an indicator that breast cancer has spread.
Other symptoms of cancer could include extreme fatigue, fever and coughing up blood. A high fever can indicate certain forms of blood cancers while coughing up blood may signal lung or throat cancer.
Be mindful to monitor any changes to the appearance of a mole or mark by consulting your physician regularly in person or via video visit. Make a mental note to check these symptoms: asymmetry, border (which looks irregular or scalloped), color and diameter.
3. Changes in your menstrual cycle
Every woman’s menstrual cycle varies, but any unexpected changes should be reported immediately to your healthcare provider. This is especially important if bleeding occurs between periods or postmenopausally.
It can also be an indicator of blood cancers.
If you experience pain or an uncomfortable sensation in your scrotum, this could be an early indicator of prostate, bladder or testicular cancer. Other telltale symptoms could include indigestion, difficulty swallowing or persistent hoarseness that won’t go away.
4. Changes in your bowel movements
Cancer symptoms may indicate numerous things; therefore it’s wise to get any potential warning signs evaluated by a doctor as soon as they arise. Such warning signs could include changes to your bowel or bladder habits, blood in your urine or stool and persistent discomfort that won’t go away.
Constipation or diarrhea that persists or your stool appears pencil thin or black could be a telltale sign of colon cancer. Pain when you urinate frequently could indicate prostate cancer; while blood in your urine could indicate kidney, bladder or colon cancer.
5. Changes in your menstrual blood flow
Every month, the uterus (womb) releases menstrual blood as part of its monthly cycle; however, abnormal bleeding could be an indicator of cancer.
Heavy or prolonged bleeding can be a telltale sign of cervical or endometrial cancer as well as certain other types of cancer. Changes to your menstrual cycle – like bleeding between periods and postmenopausally – should also be investigated by a healthcare provider immediately.
Other signs of cancer may include pain, heartburn and lumps in the neck, breasts, genitalia or thighs. Although such symptoms could be caused by something other than cancer, it is wise to be extra vigilant in case there’s something amiss.
6. Changes in your menstrual cycle
Cancerous conditions often do not show early symptoms, particularly cancers originating in reproductive organs such as cervical and uterine cancers.
Signs that indicate an impending period include bleeding during your usual cycle date or experiencing heavy periods, particularly post menopause.
Fatigue may be an early indicator of certain forms of blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma. Night sweats, flushed skin or an unusually high fever could all be signs that these cancers have developed in a patient.
7. Changes in your menstrual blood flow
Hormones released during your menstrual cycle control the lining of your uterus and can become imbalanced, leading to heavier menstruation periods, irregular or prolonged bleeding between periods, or bloody discharge. If this happens to you, symptoms could include heavy periods, prolonged or irregular bleeding between periods or bloody discharges.
Heavy bleeding is never normal and should always be evaluated. Any time that a pad or tampon needs changing every hour for more than several hours in succession or bleeding that lasts longer than seven days may indicate an issue.