Nobody likes the “C” word. Cancer is the scariest disease out there but if you catch it early, you have a big chance of survival.
Obviously, some of the symptoms associated with the disease can also be contributed to other minor illnesses but it’s ALWAYS better to be safe than sorry and get yourself checked out by a doctor if you have any concerns.
Below are 11 cancer symptoms that you ABSOLUTELY CAN NOT ignore. Take special care about the last one, since can often be misinterpreted.
1. Persistent tiredness
Feeling tired or experiencing fatigue often can be down to many things, one of those being cancer.
Both colon cancer and leukemia can generate this symptom. If you are tired more than what you feel is normal or for a longer period of time, seek medical help.
2. Drastic and unexplained weight loss
If you are experiencing weight loss quickly and don’t really have an explanation for it, there could be a deeper reason.
Most cancers will cause you to lose weight at some point so keep an eye on those numbers.
3. Persistent pain
Constant pain that seemingly has no cause or reason can be a sign of cancer, especially if you are taking treatment but it is not working.
Depending on where the pain is in your body means it might be a symptom of a brain tumor, rectum, ovary or colon cancer.
4. A weird lump
If you find a lump in your body or are just noticing a thickening or “change”, this could be an indicator that everything is not as it should be.
Even though some changes in your body are normal, pay close attention and trust your gut instinct.
5. Frequent fever
Cancer affects the immune system which results in a regular fever for what seems like no reason at all.
It’s more common during later stages of some cancers but it shows up early in cancers of the blood including lymphoma and leukemia.
6. Changes on the skin
I bet you didn’t know this but skin cancer is actually the most common kind of cancer and the best way to detect this is by noticing changes in your skin.
Keep an eye on any unusual and new freckles, moles or warts on your body and if they change size or color, get this checked out by a doctor right away. Reddened skin, blotches and bleeding on the skin can also be signs of other cancers.
7. Persistent cough
If you have a cough that just won’t seem to go away, there could be more to it than just your common cold.
If your cough causes you to experience pain in your chest, back or shoulder area – this could be even more reason to get checked out.
8. A change in bladder or bowel habits
Needing to go to the toilet more often either to urinate or to release your bowels, could be a sign of cancer. Diarrhea and constipation could also be signs of colon cancer.
Signs of prostate cancer include pain when passing urine or blood in your urine.
9. Unexplained bleeding
If you start coughing up blood, this is a big symptom of cancer.
Some other types of bleeding to look out for and get investigated include bleeding from the vagina, or from the anus.
10. Trouble swallowing food
If you are struggling to swallow or are experiencing indigestion issues, these could be signs of stomach, esophagus or throat cancer.
These type of symptoms are usually not associated with cancer but it is still better to get them seen to.
11. Other symptoms
The symptoms that have been mentioned so far are the most common signs of cancer but there are other things to look out for. This includes things like swollen feet and general changes to how your body looks/feels.
Again, they may not be signs of cancer, or could even result from the various cancer treatments, but it’s always better to feel safe than sorry.
That is your health we are talking about, and it’s always best to check with your doctor if something bothers you.
Also yearly and bi-yearly checkups are a great idea if you are over 30 or 40 years old. Remember, most cancers are treatable with very good chances if caught early.
