Cancer symptoms you shouldn’t ignore

By Stacy Simon
The best way to find some cancers early — when they’re small, have not spread, and are easier to treat, is through routine screenings, tests to check for cancer before there are any symptoms of the disease. With cervical and colon cancers, these tests can even prevent cancer from developing in the first place. But for cancer types that have no screenings, and for people who are too young to get routine screenings, symptoms are usually the first sign of cancer.
Knowing what symptoms to look for is complicated because cancer is not just one disease, but a group of diseases that can cause almost any sign or symptom. The signs and symptoms will depend on where the cancer is, how big it is, and how much it affects the organs or tissues. If a cancer has spread (metastasized), signs or symptoms may appear in different parts of the body.
A cancer may cause general symptoms like fever, extreme tiredness (fatigue), or weight loss. This may be because cancer cells use up much of the body’s energy supply, or they may release substances that change the way the body makes energy from food. Cancer can also cause the immune system to react in ways that produce these signs and symptoms. General symptoms can also have other causes, and are in fact more likely to be caused by something that isn’t cancer. But it’s important to have them checked out, just in case. If cancer is not the cause, a doctor can help figure out what the cause is and treat it, if needed.
Research has found that many people ignore symptoms or underestimate how serious they are. In a study conducted in London, researchers found that less than 60 percent of people who’d experienced symptoms that can be caused by cancer in the previous 3 months had gone to the doctor about them. And hardly any of them considered cancer as a possible cause. The symptoms included unexplained weight loss and change in the appearance of a mole, both of which should be checked out by a doctor right away.
The researchers say their study makes clear that opportunities for cancer to be diagnosed earlier are being missed. And while some symptoms, such as tiredness or coughing, are more likely caused by something other than cancer, no symptom should be ignored or overlooked, especially if it has lasted a long time or is getting worse.
Having one or more of these symptoms does not mean you have cancer, or that you’re even likely to have cancer. But if you have one, or if you notice any other big changes in the way your body works or the way you feel, let a doctor know. This is especially true if a symptom lasts for a long time or gets worse. Even if it has nothing to do with cancer, the doctor can find out more about what’s going on and, if needed, treat it.
You may also call the American Cancer Society any time, night or day, at 1-800-227-2345 with questions.
Source: American Cancer Society: cancer.org.