It is known that people are living longer than ever after a cancer diagnosis due to improved cancer screenings. Routine screenings catch diseases earlier, when they are more straightforward to treat.
Signs and
symptoms of cancer depend on where the cancer is, how big it is, and how much
it affects nearby organs or tissues. If a cancer has spread, signs or symptoms
may appear in different parts of the body.
Most signs
and symptoms are not caused by cancer but can be caused by other things. If you
have any signs and symptoms that don't go away or get worse, you should see a
doctor to find out what’s causing them. If cancer is not the cause, a doctor
can help figure out what the cause is and treat it.
Here are
some of the more common signs and symptoms that may be caused by cancer:
1- Fatigue
or extreme tiredness that doesn’t get better with rest.
2- Weight loss
or gain of 10 pounds or more for no known reason.
3- Eating
problems such as not feeling hungry, trouble swallowing, belly pain, or nausea
and vomiting.
4- Swelling
or lumps anywhere in the body.
5- Thickening
or lump in the breast or other part of the body.
6- Pain,
especially new or with no known reason, that doesn’t go away or gets worse.
7- Skin
changes such as a lump that bleeds or turns scaly, a new mole or a change in a
mole, a sore that does not heal, or a yellowish color to the skin or eyes.
Read more: 7 Ways to Prevent Breast Cancer
8- Cough or
hoarseness that does not go away.
9- Unusual
bleeding or bruising for no known reason.
10- Change
in bowel habits, such as constipation or diarrhea, that doesn’t go away or a
change in how your stools look.
11- Bladder
changes such as pain when passing urine, blood in the urine or needing to pass
urine more or less often.
12- Mouth
changes such as sores, bleeding, pain, or numbness.
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Again, if
you are experiencing any of these cancer symptoms, please see a specialist to
schedule an examination and screening.
Whatever your age, it’s always best to listen to your body and talk to your doctor if something doesn’t feel quite right. Whether it’s a change that’s new, unusual, or something that won’t go away, get it checked out.
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