10 Early Warning Signs of Cancer Most People Ingore
1. Unexplained Weight Loss
This is one of the initial noticeable cancer signs, especially for solid tumor cancers like lung and breast cancer. Once the cancer reaches the liver and disrupts its functioning associated with removing toxins and regulating appetite, it causes weight loss. But this can as well be a warning sign of digestive types of cancer, like colon cancer.
40% of all cancer patients report this warning sign at the time of diagnosis
up to 80% of advanced cancer cases are experiencing cachexia (general ‘wasting’) and unexplained weight loss
Losing weight by watching your diet or exercising is normal. In all other cases, losing up to 10% of your weight, or up to 10 pounds a month in a 6-month span is likely a cause for concern.
2. Fatigue and Weakness
If your fatigue and weakness don’t disappear even when you rest or get more sleep, consult your doctor ASAP since it might be a warning symptom of many cancers.
3. Frequent Fevers or Infections
In most cases, fever is a sign that your body fights an infection. However, if it’s a prolonged or persistent one, it might indicate a cancerous condition, like lymphoma. Also, the cancer of the blood cells, leukemia, can cause signs such as fever, frequent infections, aches, fatigue, and other flu-related signs.
This is one of the initial noticeable cancer signs, especially for solid tumor cancers like lung and breast cancer. Once the cancer reaches the liver and disrupts its functioning associated with removing toxins and regulating appetite, it causes weight loss. But this can as well be a warning sign of digestive types of cancer, like colon cancer.
40% of all cancer patients report this warning sign at the time of diagnosis
up to 80% of advanced cancer cases are experiencing cachexia (general ‘wasting’) and unexplained weight loss
Losing weight by watching your diet or exercising is normal. In all other cases, losing up to 10% of your weight, or up to 10 pounds a month in a 6-month span is likely a cause for concern.
2. Fatigue and Weakness
If your fatigue and weakness don’t disappear even when you rest or get more sleep, consult your doctor ASAP since it might be a warning symptom of many cancers.
3. Frequent Fevers or Infections
In most cases, fever is a sign that your body fights an infection. However, if it’s a prolonged or persistent one, it might indicate a cancerous condition, like lymphoma. Also, the cancer of the blood cells, leukemia, can cause signs such as fever, frequent infections, aches, fatigue, and other flu-related signs.
4. Shortness of Breath or Wheezing
Shortness of breath and wheezing can indicate various conditions, including lung cancer. Wheezing might be caused by a lung tumor pressing against and narrowing an airway.
5. Chronic cough and Chest Pain
Sometimes, lung cancer and leukemia symptoms mimic a bronchitis or a bad cough. The problem might appear occasionally, or be persistent. These symptoms can also be followed by chest pain extending down the arm, or into the shoulder. In such cases, make sure you make an appointment with a doctor as soon as you can. In addition, if you cough and your voice is hoarse more than 6 weeks, consult your doctor. There are cases when hoarse voice indicates thyroid, lung, esophageal, or laryngeal cancer.
6. Bloating
Frequent bloating for no apparent reason and over a longer period of time, might indicate ovarian cancer, especially if it is accompanied by swelling in the abdomen, pelvic pain, and feeling of fullness. Similarly, bloating or pain in the stomach after eating might indicate astomach cancer.
Shortness of breath and wheezing can indicate various conditions, including lung cancer. Wheezing might be caused by a lung tumor pressing against and narrowing an airway.
5. Chronic cough and Chest Pain
Sometimes, lung cancer and leukemia symptoms mimic a bronchitis or a bad cough. The problem might appear occasionally, or be persistent. These symptoms can also be followed by chest pain extending down the arm, or into the shoulder. In such cases, make sure you make an appointment with a doctor as soon as you can. In addition, if you cough and your voice is hoarse more than 6 weeks, consult your doctor. There are cases when hoarse voice indicates thyroid, lung, esophageal, or laryngeal cancer.
6. Bloating
Frequent bloating for no apparent reason and over a longer period of time, might indicate ovarian cancer, especially if it is accompanied by swelling in the abdomen, pelvic pain, and feeling of fullness. Similarly, bloating or pain in the stomach after eating might indicate astomach cancer.
7. Chronic Heartburn
Usually, heartburn is a sign of acid reflux. However, persistent heartburn might be related to esophageal cancer or Barrett’s esophagus. In May 2012, the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology has published a study which explains that chronic heartburn can cause inflammation of the tissue lining in the esophagus that in turn raises the risk of esophageal cancer.
Furthermore, in 2013, the American Journal of Cell Physiology has published the research conducted by scientists at Rhode Island Hospital, which explains the link between Barrett’s esophagus and the esophageal cancer development.
8. Bowel Issues
Four-week or longer lasting unexplained changes in the bowel habits can indicate bowel cancer, especially in older people. In such cases, consult your doctor.
9. Difficulty Swallowing
Problems with swallowing, or feeling chunks of food stuck in your chest or throat that worsen with time, might indicate throat or esophageal cancer. Other warning signs of these types of cancer include burning sensation or pain when swallowing food. In most cases, esophageal cancer doesn’t show any initial symptoms, so don’t ignore these if they do appear. Problems with swallowing can also be one of the initial warning signs of lung cancer.
10. Jaundice
This condition is characterized by yellowing the whites of the eyes and the skin. Typically, jaundice is a symptom of gallbladder or liver disease, but it can as well be a sign of pancreatic cancer which disrupts the functioning of liver and bile duct.
Usually, heartburn is a sign of acid reflux. However, persistent heartburn might be related to esophageal cancer or Barrett’s esophagus. In May 2012, the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology has published a study which explains that chronic heartburn can cause inflammation of the tissue lining in the esophagus that in turn raises the risk of esophageal cancer.
Furthermore, in 2013, the American Journal of Cell Physiology has published the research conducted by scientists at Rhode Island Hospital, which explains the link between Barrett’s esophagus and the esophageal cancer development.
8. Bowel Issues
Four-week or longer lasting unexplained changes in the bowel habits can indicate bowel cancer, especially in older people. In such cases, consult your doctor.
9. Difficulty Swallowing
Problems with swallowing, or feeling chunks of food stuck in your chest or throat that worsen with time, might indicate throat or esophageal cancer. Other warning signs of these types of cancer include burning sensation or pain when swallowing food. In most cases, esophageal cancer doesn’t show any initial symptoms, so don’t ignore these if they do appear. Problems with swallowing can also be one of the initial warning signs of lung cancer.
10. Jaundice
This condition is characterized by yellowing the whites of the eyes and the skin. Typically, jaundice is a symptom of gallbladder or liver disease, but it can as well be a sign of pancreatic cancer which disrupts the functioning of liver and bile duct.
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