Firstly, the aim of this article is not to cause panic but to raise awareness and keep you alert to cancer symptoms. Many of the symptoms mentioned may just be common conditions or ailments that have nothing to do with cancer but it’s always good to bring it up with your doctor. Because one of the best ways to defeat cancer is by detecting it as early as possible.
1. Chronic Cough / Chest Pain
Certain types of cancers like leukemia and lung tumors cause cough-like symptoms, and the patients usually believe that they are dealing with bronchitis. Lung cancer patients have also mentioned that they have often felt how their chest pain spreads to their shoulder and arm.
2. Excessive Bruising / Bleeding
If you get bruised easily or your cuts and wounds take a long time to clot, it means that something is wrong with your platelets and red blood cells. In certain cases, it could be a sign of leukemia. When leukemia cells grow greater in number than red blood cells and platelets, your blood is unable to carry oxygen and clot.
3. Frequent Fevers / Infections
Fevers and infections are the most common symptom of leukemia, a type of cancer that affects blood cells and first develops in the bone marrow. It causes the development of more white blood cells than the body needs, which affects your body’s ability to fight infections.
4. Difficulty Swallowing
If you’re finding it difficult of swallow food, it could be a sign of esophageal or throat cancer. This symptom could also appear if one has lung cancer.
5. Swollen Lymph Nodes
Changes in the lymph nodes may indicate that a problem with your lymphatic system. If you feel lumps in the neck, underarm, and groin, talk to your doctor immediately. It is sometimes a sign of cancer.
6. Weakness And Fatigue
While this is a vague symptom, persistent fatigue and weakness may be a sign of various types of cancer. If you feel tired and weak all the time even though you’re getting enough rest, talk to your doctor. I could be just a deficiency or an early sign of cancer.
7. Painful Periods / Bleeding Between Cycles
Too much pain, cramps, and irregular bleeding may be a sign of endometrial or uterine cancer. The diagnosis is confirmed using a transvaginal ultrasound.
8. Bloating / Abdominal Weight Gain
Sudden bloating may be a sign of ovarian cancer. It could be on and off. Women diagnosed with ovarian cancer have noticed a sudden weight gain in their abdomen.
9. Pelvic And Abdominal Pain
Aches and cramps in the pelvis and the abdominal area could be another symptom of abdominal cancer. Leukemia could also cause abdominal pain sometimes because the spleen grows larger than normal.
10. Rectal Bleeding
Colorectal cancer is the cancer of the colon and rectal bleeding or bloody stools are one of the first signs of this cancer. If you notice blood in your stool, consult your doctor immediately. It is usually diagnosed with a colonoscopy.
11. Sores That Don’t Heal
Sores that take a long time to heal or become crust or bleed are all signs of skin cancer. Skin cancer is actually a generic term used for several different types of cancers like melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. It’s good to keep checking your skin regularly for any odd changes, spots, and moles.
12. Wheezing / Shortness Of Breath
If you’re experiencing wheezing or running out of breath easily even though you don’t have asthma, it might be an initial sign of cancer. Though there could be other reasons, this might be something you want to share with your doctor on your next visit.
