Cancer – Signs and Symptoms.

There are more than 100 types of cancers as there more than 100 sites in the body where cancer can originate. Depending on the site of cancer origin, the cancer symptoms will present accordingly. Secondly due to metastasis, symptoms also vary as the site of metastasis is different from the site of cancer origin. So we shall discuss the symptoms of cancer broadly and then in brief, shall touch on the specific early warning symptoms and signs of  some common cancers. Read  these cancer statistics to know how widespread cancer is and you will realize the importance of why you should be aware of these warning signs of cancer.

Symptoms of Cancer.

Broadly, there are some symptoms of cancer which present themselves in most cases. If you are exposed to factors that cause cancer and experience these symptoms, you should be particularly more suspicious and consult your oncologist for a cancer check up. These are general symptoms and could present even with other health disorders besides cancer. Your doctor will be best person to identify the cause of these symptoms and rule out cancer.

1) Fatigue in cancer.

There is an explained feeling of being very tired. This fatigue persists even after taking rest. This could even be an early warning sign of cancer.

2) Fever in cancer.

Fever comes off and on. This intermittent fever persists. No other apparent cause for this fever is detected. This could also be an early symptom of cancer.

3) Unexplained Weight Loss in cancer.

Other factors of lifestyle remaining constant, there is loss of weight without any apparent reason. A loss of 5 kgs in such a fashion should be a cause for a worry and action steps should be initiated. Such a weight loss is often seen in cancers of the G.I. tract such as cancers of  esophagus, stomach, colon, lung and the pancreas.

4) Pain in cancer.

Site of pain varies according to the site of cancer. For example:

• Headache in brain cancer.
• Bone pain at the site of bone cancer.
• Back pain may be due to colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer.
• Pain in pelvic area will occur in ovarian cancer and leukemia.

Pain may be among the  early  signs  of cancer and may also indicate the onset of metastasis.

5) Abnormal growth of body hair in cancer.

In certain cases, there may be excessive growth of body hair. The baldness that you see in cancer patients of cancer is due to the chemotherapy treatment and not due to cancer. Such excessive growth of body hair may occur on face, armpits, chest and in the groin. It is called Hirsutism. It becomes more easily noticed in women. It is seen in:

• Adrenocortical carcinoma which is the cancer of the adrenal glands.
• Ovarian cancer.
• Renal cell carcinoma which is the cancer of the ovaries.
• Tumors of the pituary gland.

Picture of excessive hair growth in cancer.

6) Skin changes in cancer.

In cancer, certain changes do appear in the appearance of the skin.They could be as follows:

• The skin could turn darker.
• There could be jaundice (yellowish discoloration of skin).
• There could be itching of the skin.
• At times there could be reddish discoloration of the skin (erythemia).

Picture of skin changes in breast cancer.

Having seen in general what could be the symptoms of cancer and the signs of cancer, it is necessary to be more specific and  know what are the early symptoms of cancer in relation to specific cancers we usually come across – in the following post.

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