Symptoms To Look Out For in Cancer Checkup

Cancer is the greatest test of the human spirit. It is undeniably one of the major causes of premature deaths. When cells in the body behave abnormally and start growing and dividing themselves, destroying body tissues and invading other parts, is CANCER.

Some of the Most Common Cancers:

• Breast cancer
• Lung cancer
• Thyroid cancer
• Bladder cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Colon and rectal cancer
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Melanoma
• Kidney cancer
• Endometrial cancer
• Leukemia
• Pancreatic cancer
• Liver cancer

About 9.6 million people die every year around the world and more than a million new cases are reported in India every year. Half of the million people die because of the ignorance and lack of understanding of Cancer. According to a recent study titled ‘The burden of cancers and their variations across the states of India’, the death rate is higher in females due to cancer. The International Cancer Control is launching a 3-year campaign called ‘I Am and I Will’ in 2019, which asks for personal commitment in order to help reduce the burden of cancer globally.

Cancer is a war that can be won if you know what to look for. One must always have a good understanding of their body. Regular screening helps detects the abnormalities and can help detect several diseases at an early stage. Do not ignore the warning signs of Cancer. If you have the following potential symptoms of Cancer, then consult your doctor and get it checked immediately:

1. Losing Weight:

When your healthy body is attacked by cancer cells, you may start losing weight. Many people lose around 5 kg weight even before they are diagnosed with cancer. So weight loss can be considered as a starting point. So if you do not have any conditions such as hyperthyroidism explaining your weight loss and you are losing weight suddenly then it can be a sign of Esophagus, stomach, lung or pancreatic cancer.

2. Unusual Blood loss:

Blood in stools may indicate colon or rectal cancer and blood in urine may indicate prostate or bladder cancer. If you are experiencing unusual bleeding or discharge, then visit a doctor for a checkup. In the case of stomach cancer, there is internal bleeding which is rarely detected on time.

3. Fever:

Fever is the most common and most confusing symptom of Cancer as one can get a fever due to weather change too. When your body meets with an infection or an illness, it reacts in the form of fever. Whenever you get a fever, your body is indicating that something is wrong with your body. If you are getting a fever often, then it might be indicating that cancer has already spread to other parts and is at an advanced stage. Fever is often seen as a symptom of advanced cancer but one can also get fever at the early stages of Leukemia or Lymphoma.

4. Thickening or Lump:

In most cases of Breast cancer, women often are unable to detect the lump on time. Not all breast lumps are cancer. But it is suggested that women should examine their breasts at a regular time interval so that they can feel the changes and get it checked for breast cancer. Thickening of breasts is often a sign of Breast cancer. If your nipples are discharging and are turned inward along with redness or scaling on breast skin then it can be a symptom of breast cancer. It is better to get it checked.

5. Fatigue and Pain:

Fatigue, tiredness and unexplained pain can be the warning signs of cancer. If you are experiencing continuous fatigue and you are tired for no reason then cancer is a possibility. Tiredness can be related to Leukemia and Fatigue can be a result of blood loss from other different cancers. Pain is normally caused when the cancer is spread and you can also experience back pains in the case of colon, rectum, ovarian and prostate cancers.

6. Changes in Skin:

When you notice your moles or warts changing or getting bigger, then do not take it lightly, it can be a symptom of Skin Cancer. White spots, lumps or bumps, all can be related to cancers like oral cancer, skin cancer or breast cancer.

If you are experiencing an increase in hair growth, redness, sores, hyper-pigmentation, yellow eyes, and skin, then cancer might be the reason, get it checked.

7. Constant Cough:

You can get cough due to colds, flu, low humidity, and allergies but if you are experiencing Cough for a long time and you are getting hoarse, it can be a sign of Lung Cancer or thyroid cancer. If the disease is advanced then you may experience coughing up blood too.

8. Night sweats:

Night sweats indicate the early stages of many cancers like Leukemia and Liver Cancer. If you often find yourself drenched in night sweats, then it may be a symptom of cancer. Night sweats can be caused due to many other reasons, but if you see other warning signs along with night sweats then it is time to get a checkup.

9. Changes in Bowel:

Many people start having problems with swallowing, eating, lessening of appetite or feeling pain after eating in Cancer. If you are often getting indigestion, feel nauseous, bloating and vomiting, this symptom can be a sign of Cancer. These symptoms indicate Esophageal, ovarian, and brain cancers.

There are times when you can get Cancer without any prior signs. Cancers like Pancreatic cancer and Kidney cancer are those which are diagnosed only after reaching an advanced stage. If you have a family history of cancer, it is better to get it checked often. If you are well aware of the changes in your body, you can detect the signs and can stop Cancer from spreading further. Contact Cancer Rounds team for consultations and treatment.