13 Cancer Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore

Cancer often does not show typical symptoms. However, recognizing signs of cancer early is very important to support the success of treatment. Check out the full explanation of the various symptoms of cancer in the explanation below.
Signs and Symptoms of Cancer
Although cancer doesn’t always show symptoms, a number of conditions can be signs that you should check with your doctor.
Some of the symptoms that you should watch out for include:
1. Constant Cough Accompanied by Hoarseness
Coughing and hoarseness are common symptoms when someone has the flu. However, did you know that these two conditions can be a sign of cancer?
The type of cancer in question is lung cancer and cancer of the larynx or thyroid gland. The condition can be suspected if it occurs continuously and does not go away.
2. Weight loss without a clear cause
Losing weight is one of the most common signs of cancer. According to Cancer Research UK, around 60 out of 100 people with lung cancer experience a significant reduction in appetite and weight.
Still according to the same study, 80 percent of upper gastrointestinal cancer patients experience these two conditions.
Also Read: 10 Types of Cancer That Can Appear Without Early Symptoms, Don’t Ignore It
3. Abnormal bleeding
Cancer can trigger abnormal bleeding. In addition, bleeding can also appear where it shouldn’t.
For women, be aware of the possibility of bleeding outside of menstrual periods or when bleeding occurs with very severe pain. Because these conditions can be symptoms of endometrial cancer and cervical cancer.
Therefore, it is important for women to know the menstrual cycle.
4. Fever
Although not a typical symptom, fever is a sign of cancer that often occurs. Therefore, do not underestimate this condition.
If the fever lasts for more than three days, immediately consult a doctor. The reason is, this condition can be a symptom of lymph node cancer (lymphoma).
5. Often Feeling Fatigue
Feeling tired is natural to feel, especially after struggling with busy daily activities. However, what happens if you feel it too often, even though you have had enough rest?
It turns out that fatigue is one of the signs of blood cancer (leukemia). In addition, this condition can also indicate that you are short of blood due to stomach cancer and colon cancer.
Not only that, cancer sufferers are prone to losing weight. This condition can make cancer sufferers often feel tired.
6. Changes in the Skin
Other cancer symptoms that you can observe directly are changes in the skin, such as discoloration and the appearance of new moles or marks on the skin that were not there before.
Some changes that occur can indicate skin cancer. In addition, the condition of your skin can also be a sign of other types of cancer.
Be alert if your skin turns darker, looks yellow or red, feels itchy, or grows too much hair. Some of these conditions can be a sign of liver, kidney, and ovarian cancer.
7. Lumps on the skin
Apart from discoloration of the skin, symptoms of skin cancer can also cause swelling or lumps to appear on the skin, such as on the stomach, neck, armpits and groin.
Initially, the lump may appear small. Over time, the lump will enlarge, be reddish in color, and feel painful.
Also Read: Symptoms of Early Stage Brain Cancer You Can Recognize
8. Pain in the Body
Cancer causes pain in certain parts of the body. This condition occurs because the growing cancer cells interfere with destroying the surrounding tissue.
Some examples of types of cancer that can trigger pain, namely bone cancer and some types of tumors in the brain.
Tumors in the brain can cause headaches for several days, not even getting better despite treatment.
9. Swollen Lymph Nodes
The next symptom of cancer is swollen lymph nodes. This organ has an important role for the immune system to fight infection.
When the body is infected, these glands will swell. Likewise when there are cancer cells that develop.
Therefore, when you find that this organ is swollen, don’t rule out all the conditions that trigger the cause. Because it could be, the swelling is caused by cancer, especially lymphoma.
10. Difficulty Swallowing
Some types of cancer and their treatments can cause sore throat and mouth. Not infrequently, patients will complain of symptoms in the form of difficulty swallowing.
Types of cancer that are very likely to trigger this problem are cancer of the larynx, pharynx, nasal cavity, salivary glands, mouth and tongue, and melanoma.
11. Hard-to-Heal Wounds
Wounds that are difficult to heal on the skin, such as spots that appear to bleed, can be a symptom of skin cancer.
For example, cancer of the lips. This type of cancer is included in the oral cancer. Symptoms include sores on the lips that do not heal.
Also Read: 11 Symptoms of Lymphatic Cancer that are Rarely Noticed
12. Anemia
Anemia occurs when the body doesn’t have enough red blood cells in the bone marrow. Apparently, this condition can occur due to cancer.
Some types of cancer, such as lymphoma, leukemia, multiple myeloma can damage the bone marrow. Eventually, the tumor will spread to these organs and affect the red blood cells.
13. Urination Problems
The next symptom of cancer is a disturbance when urinating. This can occur as a result of the growth of cancer cells in the bladder.
Some of the problems that can be experienced, namely difficulty urinating, pain when urinating, and blood in the urine.
Now, those are some of the symptoms of cancer that you need to watch out for. If you have the symptoms mentioned earlier, immediately consult a doctor.
Later, the doctor will carry out a series of examinations to diagnose the condition, such as a physical examination, imaging tests and biopsies.
- Anonymous. 2020. Difficulty Swallowing. https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/coping/physically/diet-problems/types/difficulty-swallowing. (Accessed 27 February 2023).
- Anonymous. 2020. Weight Loss. https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/coping/physically/diet-problems/types/weight-loss. (Accessed 27 February 2023).
- Anonymous. 2022. Cancer Pain: Relief is Possible. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cancer/in-depth/cancer-pain/art-20045118. (Accessed 27 February 2023).
- Anonymous. 2022. Lip Cancer. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lip-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20355079. (Accessed 27 February 2023).
- Anonymous. 2019. Symptoms of Cancer. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/diagnosis-staging/symptoms. (Accessed 27 February 2023).
- Anonymous. Lymph Nodes. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/lymph-node. (Accessed 27 February 2023).
- Ellis, Rachel Reiff. 2022. Cancer Symptoms. https://www.webmd.com/cancer/guide/understanding-cancer-symptoms. (Accessed 27 February 2023).
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