It is usual to visit the doctor and do numerous testing in order to set a diagnosis, but what you don’t know is that you already have a natural indicator that tells you what is wrong, and that’s your body. Knowing your body and recognizing the signs can be of great help in preventing further damage. Here are some cancer warning signs:
Indirect symptoms
Wheezing/shortness of breath
These are one of the basic lung cancer symptoms that are often overlooked
Frequent fevers or infections
These symptoms usually denote leukemia, a cancer of the blood cells that starts in bone marrow. These symptoms occur because the marrow to produces abnormal white blood cells that hinder your body’s infection-fighting abilities.
Difficulty swallowing
A common throat cancer symptom, which can indicate lung cancer as well
Weakness and fatigue
This symptom should be looked in combination with other symptoms in order to determine which one it is.
Feeling full and unable to eat
Common sign for ovarian cancer. If you don’t feel hungry even after days of not eating, then it is a tip-off.
Anorexia
This could indicate pancreatic cancer. A sudden disgust for coffee, wine or smoking can be linked to this as well.
Visible Bodily Changes
Rectal bleeding or blood in stool
A common sign for colorectal cancer. Nonetheless, blood in the toilet mustn’t be overlooked.
Lumps in the neck, underarm or groin area
This indicates swollen lymph nodes, which can indicate various types of cancer.
Excessive bruising or bleeding that doesn’t stop
Signs of platelets and red blood cells’ abnormalities, that may be indicating leukemia. Leukemia cells crowd out red blood cells impairing your blood’s ability to carry oxygen leading to clots.
Bloating or abdominal weight gain
Often reported by ovarian cancer patients, unexplained bloating that lasts for a significant amount of time should be checked by a doctor immediately.
Unexplained weight loss
This is a common sign with cancers linked to the digestive system. Also, when cancer spreads to the liver, it affects your appetite and the body’s ability to get rid of waste.
A red, sore, or swollen breast
Every sudden and unexplained change with your breasts should be reported to your doctor as they are often signs of breast cancer. A nipple that appears flattened, inverted or turned sideways had also been noticed by patients diagnosed with breast cancer.
Swelling of facial features
This symptom has been reported by lung cancer patients. Puffiness, swelling or redness of the face happen when small cell lung tumors block blood vessels in the chest preventing blood from flowing freely to the head.
Sore/lump on the skin that bleeds, becomes crusty or doesn’t heal
Various types of skin cancer, like melanoma, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma can cause this symptom, so be aware of any odd-looking growths or spots.
Changes in nails
A brown/black dot under the nail can indicate skin cancer, while pale or white nails can be a sign of liver cancer. Lung cancer manifests through “clubbed” nails, an enlargement of the fingers with nails that curve down over the tips.
Pain
Unusually heavy or painful periods, bleeding between periods
This is a common warning sign for uterine cancer. If these symptoms occur, do a transvaginal ultrasound.
Chronic cough or chest pain
Most common for leukemia and lung cancer, these symptoms are often mistaken for a bad cough or bronchitis. Some patients also reported a chest pain that extended to the shoulder and down their arm.
Pelvic/Abdominal pain
These signs are linked with the bloating signs of ovarian cancer. They can also indicate leukemia as it enlarges the spleen.
Pain in back or lower right side
A common early sign for liver cancer, but it can also be caused by breast tumor that presses backward into the chest or spreads to the spine/ribs.
Upset stomach
Colorectal cancer can cause stomach cramps or a frequently upset stomach.
In order to protect yourself from ever becoming a cancer victim, keep in mind that Vitamin D is crucial for prevention. Also, avoid processed foods; keep your insulin levels normal as high insulin levels may influence prostate cancer.
Do regular physical activities and exercises which will also help in keeping the insulin levels normal. Higher lycopene plasma levels, a carotenoid pigment present in tomatoes and many berries and fruits, have been shown to lower prostate risk in men as well.
Stay away from pesticides household chemical cleaners, synthetic air fresheners and air pollution as much as possible. Moreover, according to some studies, long-term cell phone usage over 10 years could be linked to brain tumors.
