10 symptoms of cancer that may go unnoticed – 09/10/2023 – Balance and Health

Most people, when they hear the word cancer, associate the term with a dangerous disease with a fatal outcome.

But since the 1970s, the survival rate has tripled, mainly thanks to early diagnosis.

In reality, most tumors are treatable with a favorable outcome for the patient when they are diagnosed before reaching an advanced stage.

The problem is that, often, because we don’t want to go to the doctor or don’t give it due importance, we ignore some symptoms that can be crucial for an early diagnosis.

According to a study carried out by the organization Cancer Research UK, more than half of British people have suffered some of the symptoms that could indicate the presence of cancer, but only 2% thought they might have the disease and more than a third completely ignored the alarms and did not he went to the doctor.

Katriina Whitaker, researcher at University College London and lead author of the research, spoke to the BBC about the importance of going to the doctor.

“There are those who think we shouldn’t encourage people to be hypochondriacs, but we have a problem with individuals who don’t go to the doctor because they believe they are wasting their time and using the health system’s resources uselessly.”

“We have to get the message out that if you have symptoms that don’t go away, especially those that are considered warning signs, you shouldn’t ignore them, you should go to the doctor and seek help,” he says.

BBC News Mundo, the BBC’s Spanish-language service, has compiled a list of 10 general symptoms of cancer that, according to the American Cancer Society, you should not ignore.

1. Unexplained weight loss

Most people with cancer experience weight loss at some point.

When you lose weight for no apparent reason, it is called unexplained weight loss.

A loss of 5kg or more may be the first sign of cancer.

This occurs most frequently in the case of pancreatic, stomach, esophageal and lung cancer.

2. Fever

Fever is very common in cancer patients, although it occurs more often after the cancer has spread from the site of origin.

Fever will affect almost everyone with cancer especially if the disease or its treatments affect the immune system.

Less commonly, fever can be an early sign of cancer, such as leukemia or lymphoma.

3. Tiredness

Fatigue is extreme exhaustion that does not improve with rest. It can be a major symptom as the cancer progresses.

However, in some types of cancer, such as leukemia, tiredness may occur at first.

Some types of colon or stomach cancer can cause abnormal blood loss.

This is another way that cancer can cause tiredness.

4. Skin changes

Along with skin cancers, some other types of cancer can cause visible changes to the skin.

These signs and symptoms include: darkening of the skin (hyperpigmentation), yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), redness (erythema), itching (pruritus), and excessive hair growth.

5. Change in urination or bladder function

Constipation, diarrhea, or a change in the size of your stool over a long period of time can be a sign of colon cancer.

On the other hand, painful urination, blood in the urine, or changes in bladder function (such as urinating more or less frequently) may be related to bladder or prostate cancer.

6. Wounds that don’t heal

Many people know that spots that grow, hurt or bleed can be symptoms of skin cancer, but we should also be aware of small wounds that do not heal for more than four weeks.

A mouth sore that doesn’t heal could be caused by oral cancer.

Any changes in the mouth that last for a long time should be examined immediately by a doctor or dentist.

Sores on the penis or vagina may be signs of infection or early-stage cancer and should be examined by a healthcare professional.

7. Bleeding

Unusual bleeding may occur with early or advanced stage cancer.

Coughing up blood can be a sign of lung cancer.

On the other hand, if blood appears in the stool (which may be very dark in color), it could be a sign of colon cancer or rectal cancer.

Cervical cancer of the endometrium (lining of the uterus) can cause abnormal vaginal bleeding.

Additionally, blood in the urine can be a sign of bladder or kidney cancer.

A bloody discharge from the nipple may be a sign of breast cancer.

8. Stiffness or lumps anywhere on the body

Many types of cancer can be felt on the skin.

These cancers occur mainly in the breasts, testicles, lymph nodes (glands), and soft tissues of the body.

A lump or stiffness can be an early or late sign of cancer.

9. Difficulty swallowing

Persistent indigestion or difficulty swallowing may be signs of cancer of the esophagus (the swallowing tube that leads to the stomach), stomach, or pharynx (throat).

However, like most of the symptoms on this list, they are often caused by causes other than cancer.

10. Persistent cough or hoarseness

A persistent cough can be a sign of lung cancer.

It is advisable to consult a doctor after the third week of coughing.

Hoarseness can be a sign of cancer in the larynx or thyroid gland.