What are the main symptoms and signs of cancer?Unexplained weight loss:
Most people with cancer lose weight during a certain period of the disease. Unexplained weight loss of 4-5 kg may be the first sign of cancer, especially in pancreatic cancer, stomach, esophagus or lungs.
Temperature rise (fever):
The rise in temperature is often seen in cancer, especially in its spread. In almost all patients at some stage of the disease begins fever, especially treatment affects the immune system and increases susceptibility to infections. Rarely, a rise in temperature can be an early sign of cancer, for example, in Hodgkin's disease (lymphogranulomatosis).
Increased tendency to fatigue:
Increased fatigue can be an important symptom of disease progression. But fatigue, weakness can also occur at an early stage, especially if the cancer causes chronic blood loss, which occurs in colon or stomach cancer.
Pain
Pain can be an early sign of some tumors, for example, of the bones. But most often pain is a symptom of the spreading process.
Skin changes:
In addition to skin tumors, some types of tumors of the internal organs can cause visible skin signs such as darkening of the skin. (hyperpigmentation), yellowing (jaundice), redness (erythema), itching or excessive hair growth.
Specific signs and symptoms of cancer
In addition to the above general symptoms, other general symptoms should be known, which can be observed in cancer. It must be borne in mind again, that and these, and the other signs and symptoms do not necessarily speak in favor of cancer because they can also be found in other diseases.
Disorders of defecation or bladder function:
Chronic constipation, disorder or change in the amount of stool may be a sign of colon cancer. Pain when urinating, the presence of blood in the urine or changes in bladder function (more frequent or infrequent urination) may be associated with bladder or prostate cancer. Tell your doctor about these changes right away.
No healing wound or ulcer:
Malignant skin tumors can bleed and look like a wound or ulcer. Prolonged sores in the mouth can turn out to be cancer of the oral cavity, especially in these, who smoke, chew tobacco or often drink alcohol. Ulcers of the penis or vagina can be both signs of infection, as well as at an early stage of cancer and therefore should be investigated.
Abnormal bleeding
Unusual bleeding can be a sign of early or advanced cancer. Blood in the sputum can be a sign of lung cancer. Blood in the stool (or dark or black stools) may be a sign of colon or rectal cancer. Cancer of the cervix or the uterus itself can lead to vaginal bleeding. Blood in the urine is a sign of possible bladder or kidney cancer. The blood, discharge from the nipples may be a sign of breast cancer.
Seal or tumor in the mammary gland or other parts of the body:
Many tumors can be felt through the skin, especially those of the mammary gland, of the lymph nodes and soft tissues of the body. Seals or tumors may be the first signs of early or advanced cancer. Tell your doctor right away before this lump or tumor starts to grow.
Indigestion or difficulty swallowing:
Although these symptoms occur in various diseases, they may also indicate the presence of esophageal cancer, stomach or throat.
Change in nipples and moles:
You should consult a doctor for any change in color, the shape and size of these formations. The skin source may be melanoma, which with early diagnosis is amenable to treatment.
Irritating cough or hoarse voice:
A long and persistent cough can be a sign of lung cancer. A hoarse voice can be a sign of cancer, a sign of throat or thyroid cancer.
Don't wait, and look for a specialist!
The treatment is so much more effective, the earlier the tumor is detected. Early detection of the tumor means, that treatment will begin with a smaller amount of cancer, when it has not yet spread to other parts of the body. This usually means a cure, especially if the primary treatment is surgery.
A good example of the possibility of early detection of tumors is skin melanoma. It is easily removed if it has not penetrated deep into the skin. Otherwise, the 5-year life expectancy in this case is at 100%. But in the case of melanoma spreading to other parts of the body, this percentage drops dramatically.
Sometimes the symptoms are ignored because the person is frightened by the possible consequences and or refuses to see a doctor., or considers, that the symptom is not so significant. Common symptoms such as increased fatigue are often not associated with cancer and are therefore rarely addressed, especially when there is an obvious reason or when they are temporary. Similarly, the patient may consider the specific symptom of a breast tumor to be a simple cyst, which will pass by itself. But such symptoms should not be ignored, especially if they exist for a long period of time for example, week or negative dynamics are observed.
In some cases, it is possible for cancer to be detected before symptoms appear. This can be done in a special study of people, who have no symptoms of cancer. But that doesn't mean, that you have to hide from the doctor the symptoms that have already appeared. Source: http://www.puls.bg
