Cancer signs and symptoms

Signs and symptoms are changes in our body which signal that something is not right in the body.

Treatment works best when cancer is found early – while it is still small and is less likely to have spread to other parts of the body. This often means a better chance for a cure. And so we should not ignore signs and symptoms in our body.

Signs and symptons of some cancers are as follows:

Colon cancer - Long-term constipation, diarrhea, or a change in the size of the stool. Moreover, blood in the stool (which can look like very dark or black stool) could also be a sign of colon or rectal cancer.

 

Lung cancer - a cough that does not go away, coughing up blood.

 

Cancer of the larynx (voice box) or thyroid gland - hoarseness.

 

Bladder or prostate cancer - pain when passing urine, blood in the urine, or a change in bladder function (such as needing to pass urine more or less often than usual).

 

Skin cancers - may bleed and look like sores that don’t heal.

 

Along with skin cancers, some other cancers can cause skin changes that can be seen. These signs and symptoms include:

• Darker looking skin (hyperpigmentation)
• Yellowish skin and eyes (jaundice)
• Reddened skin (erythema)
• Itching (pruritis)
• Excessive hair growth

The cancers that occur mostly in the breast, testicle, lymph nodes (glands) and the soft tissues of the body can also be felt through the skin. A lump or thickening may be an early or late sign of cancer especially if it has grown in size.

 

Any wart, mole, or freckle that changes color, size, or shape, or that loses its sharp border may be a melanoma.

 

Breast cancer - some show up as red or thickened skin rather than a lump. A bloody discharge from the nipple may also be a sign.

 

Cancer of the cervix or the endometrium (lining of the uterus) - can cause abnormal vaginal bleeding.

 

Oral cancer - A long-lasting sore in the mouth.

 

White patches inside the mouth and white spots on the tongue may be leukoplakia, which is a pre-cancerous area that’s caused by frequent irritation. If it’s not treated, leukoplakia can become mouth cancer. 

 

Cancers of the esophagus, stomach and pharynx (throat) - Indigestion or swallowing problems that don’t go away.

 

Sores on the penis or vagina may either be signs of infection or an early cancer. 

 

Pain may be an early symptom with some cancers like bone cancers or testicular cancer. A headache that does not go away or get better with treatment may be a symptom of a brain tumor. Back pain can be a symptom of cancer of the colon, rectum, or ovary. Most often, pain due to cancer means it has already spread (metastasized) from where it started.

 

A cancer may also cause symptoms like fever, extreme tiredness (fatigue) or weight loss. This may be because cancer cells use up much of the body’s energy supply, or they may release substances that change the way the body makes energy from food. 

 

For weight loss, most people with cancer will lose weight at some point. An unexplained weight loss of 10 pounds or more may be the first sign of cancer. This happens most often with cancers of the pancreas, stomach, esophagus (swallowing tube) or lung.

 

Fever is very common with cancer, but it more often happens after cancer has spread from where it started. Almost all people with cancer will have fever at some time, especially if the cancer or its treatment affects the immune system. Less often, fever may be an early sign of cancer, such as blood cancers like leukemia or lymphoma.

 

Fatigue may be an important symptom as cancer grows. But it may happen early in some cancers, like leukemia. Some colon or stomach cancers can cause blood loss that is not obvious. This is another way cancer can cause fatigue.

 

But sometimes cancer starts in places where it won’t cause any signs or symptoms until it has grown quite large. For example, cancers of the pancreas.

 

In addition, cancer cells may release substances into the bloodstream that cause symptoms that are not usually linked to cancer. For example, some cancers of the pancreas can release substances that cause blood clots in veins of the legs. Some lung cancers make hormone-like substances that raise blood calcium levels. This affects nerves and muscles, making the person feel weak and dizzy.