Cancer is one of the diseases with very low survival rate, but early detection increases your chances of living through it. One study revealed that more than 50% of adults have experienced some cancer-related symptoms, but only 2% of them believed or even thought that cancer could be a possible cause. Even though the awareness of these symptoms is very high, very few people consider cancer to be a possible cause when they experience them.
Here are some of the symptoms that you shouldn’t ignore.
1. Persistent Cough or Hoarseness
Coughing means that there is something wrong in your respiratory tract. But if you have persistent cacophony or a cough accompanied by blood, then it needs to be evaluated to see if it could be lung cancer. Going under X-ray or CT scan as soon as possible can save your life.
2. Persistent Change in Bowel Habits
A change in bowel habits can sometimes mean a simple digestive disturbance. But, a sudden change in stool appearance can be an early sign of colon cancer. Having trouble defecating could be a sign that there is a mass obstructing the transit of the stool from the bowel. This requires immediate colonoscopy.
3. Persistent Change in Bladder Habits
Pay attention to how frequent you urinate and the appearance of your urine. If you notice blood in the urine, then that could be indicative of bladder or kidney cancer, although this is usually a sign of a urinary tract infection.
4. Persistent Unexplained Pain
If you are experiencing any persistent pain, then you should check it out. Persistent headaches, for example, are not an indicator of brain cancer, but it would be the best if they are looked into. Persistent chest pain could be a sign of lung cancer. And abdominal pain could be ovarian cancer. If you are experiencing pain and don’t know why, then you should immediately go to the doctor.
5. Change in the Appearance of a Mole
Moles can be symptomatic of cancers. If you notice a new mark or notice that an old mole has suddenly changed its color, size or even texture, then consult a dermatologist immediately.
6. A Sore That Does Not Heal
Our body usually heals itself. If you have a sore that you’ve been experiencing for more than three weeks, you must have it immediately checked by your doctor. That kind of sore could be a sign of carcinoma.
7. Unexpected Bleeding
Vaginal bleeding outside your normal cycle is a common symptom of cervical cancer. On the other hand, bleeding on the rectum can mean colon cancer. Remember that bleeding without an apparent open wound means trouble.
8. Sudden Weight Loss
Sudden weight loss should be a red flag, especially if you are not actively causing it. It could be indicative of a serious medical problem. Malignancy or tumors often cause the patient to lose weight.
9. An Unexplained Lump
If you feel any lump on your body, no matter how small, have it checked. If an existing lump is changing, it should also be checked by your doctor. Lumps in the breast and in testicles are very common symptom of breast cancer and prostate cancer respectively.
10. Persistent Difficulty Swallowing
Having difficulty swallowing could be due to a cancer. Two of the cancers that are often associated with difficulty in swallowing are neck and esophageal cancer. So if you experience this difficulty, have your esophagus checked as soon as possible.
Sourced: stethnews
