Symptoms and signs of cancer

Malignant diseases can cause a variety of symptoms, but these symptoms are most often a sign of another disease or injury, not cancer, i.e. they are not specific to cancer. Malignant diseases themselves usually do not cause any symptoms in the initial stages , which is the greatest diagnostic challenge in early detection of this disease. Symptoms of cancer usually vary depending on the specific type of cancer, although there are some general signs and symptoms that can occur in multiple types, such as fatigue, unintentional weight loss, and fever. Anyone who develops unexplained symptoms that do not go away after a few weeks should consult their doctor without delay.

Figure 1. An enlarged lymph node in the neck can be a sign of malignancy, but it is more often the result of other conditions, such as infection. If the node persists, consult a doctor to determine the cause.

Some of the more common symptoms of cancer that may occur are: * Changes in the breasts: a lump or feeling of hardness in the breast or armpit; changes in the nipple area and discharge; itching, redness, peeling or puckering of the skin of the breast

* Changes in urination: difficulty urinating; pain when urinating; blood in the urine.

* Bleeding or bruising for no apparent reason

* Stool changes: blood in stool; change in bowel habits

* Cough or hoarseness that doesn't stop

* Eating problems: pain after eating and heartburn; difficulty swallowing; abdominal pain; nausea and vomiting; change in appetite

* Severe and persistent fatigue

* Fever and night sweats for no apparent reason

* Changes in the mouth: white or red growths on the tongue or in the oral cavity; bleeding, pain, or numbness of the lips or mouth

* Neurological disorders: headache; epilepsy; changes in vision or hearing; facial drooping

* Skin changes: a lump that bleeds or peels; a new mole or change in an existing one; a sore that doesn't heal; yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes

* A swelling or lump anywhere on the body, most often in the neck, armpits, abdomen, or groin

* Weight gain or loss for no apparent reason

Additional interesting facts

Can I tell how long I have had a malignant disease and when it appeared? As a rule, there is no reliable answer to this question. Some types of cancer grow faster than others, for example, liver and pancreatic cancer usually progress significantly faster than prostate cancer. However, since no malignant disease is the same and each patient is specific, it is not possible to say with certainty when a person's cancer first appeared in a diagnosis. Signs and symptoms also cannot help here because they usually only appear in an advanced stage of the disease. In general, we can say that the first symptoms occur when the tumor mass grows enough to start putting pressure on surrounding structures, organs and tissues, as well as blood vessels and nerves. This can lead to pain and/or changes in the function of the affected organ (for example, a brain tumor can lead to visual impairment due to pressure on the optic nerve).

Continue reading: Basics of Cancer Diagnosis .

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