Being informed at all times and knowing how to look for and notice changes in your body is vital for your health. Since the body is constantly changing, being aware when something is not right will help you react on time and prevent or treat specific health problems, for example, different types of cancer.
The Importance of Early Detection
This is especially true for diseases like cancer where early detection could save your life. As the number of cancer cases in the world is skyrocketing, one cannot emphasize enough the importance of recognizing the symptoms timely. To recognize them, we need to know them. So, let’s check them out.
The Most Common Signs of Cancer
Unexplained weight loss
This is especially true for lung and breast cancer. The loss of weight happens when the cancerous cells start attacking the liver. Loss of weight can also signalize digestive or colon cancer.
Chronic heartburn
Chronic heartburn can often be a sign of esophageal cancer or Barrett’s esophagus.
Bowel issues
Bowel cancer is known to cause abrupt changes in the functioning of the bowel. If this has been going on for a longer period of time, that is, more than one month, you should consult your physician.
Difficulty swallowing
Changes in swallowing along with pain and burning sensation could indicate lung, throat, or esophageal cancer.
Chronic fever and infections
If you have been suffering from fever for a longer period of time, you may be suffering from lymphoma. Make sure to consult your physician as soon as possible.
Tiredness
A lot of cancers lead to a chronic and unexplained tiredness and weakness.
Shortness of breath
If you cannot breathe normally, you should consult your physician as lung cancer is known to narrow and press against the airways.
Chronic coughing
Leukemia and lung cancer are known to cause chest pain and chronic cough.
Bloating
Abdominal bloating along with pain in the pelvis and a feeling of fullness could be an indicator of ovarian cancer.
Jaundice
Jaundice could often be a symptom of gallbladder or liver cancer, but numerous other health problems; therefore, to be certain, do not wait and consult your physician as soon as possible.
Lumps and swellings on the body
Strange, sudden lumps in specific body areas such as the neck, groin, breasts, testicles, abdomen, or armpits may be symptoms of cancer.
Changes in existing moles
If you notice changes in your existing moles or if your moles start to hurt, you should consult your physician because of the possibility of cancer.
Excessive bleeding
Blood in the stool or urine may be a symptom of bowel, bladder, or kidney cancer. Bleeding in between periods could be a sign of uterine cancer.
Pain
If you feel pain that does not go away for more than a month, you may be suffering from bone or testicular cancer.
Abdominal ache
Ache in the abdomen or pelvis area could point out to ovarian, rectum, breast, uterine, and colon cancer.
Changes in the nails
Certain changes in the nails could be signs of lung, liver, or skin cancer. In most cases, the nails will become pale, clubbed, or with dark spots.
