Cancer is a disease that starts when cells grow out of control and crowd out normal cells. This makes it tough to function the way it should for the body. Also, cancer is not one disease. There are many types of cancer, such as breast cancer, lung cancer, liver cancer, etc. However, whether the different types of cancer are similar in the way they grow and spread or different, they usually give early signs that help in detecting them. Those signs usually depend on where the cancer is present, how big it is, and how much it affects the organs and tissues of the body.
That being said, it is very important to pay attention to all of the possible warning signs as the earlier the cancer is spotted, the easier it is to treat it. Indeed, according to medical professionals, such as oncologists Hong Kong, treatment has a better chance of success when an individual receives his/her cancer diagnosis early.
In this following article, you will find some of the most common early telltale signs of cancer that you should keep in mind. Most of the time, however, these warning signs are not an indication of cancer. Nonetheless, if you notice any of the signs below, it’s definitely worth going to your health care professional in order to be certain. That might save your life.
Table of Contents
Unexplained Weight loss
The first telltale sign of cancer is weight loss. As cancer cells attack the healthy ones, your body might respond to this through weight loss. Many people lose around ten pounds (around four kilos and a half) before their cancer diagnosis, and the weight loss usually comes on suddenly. Typically, weight loss is most prominent in cancers of the lung, stomach, pancreas, and esophagus.
Changes In Bowel Habits
Changes in digestion and persistent change in bowel habits can also be an indicative sign of cancer, particularly colon and rectum cancers. The latter can lead to difficulty swallowing, pain after eating, and frequent diarrhea and constipation.
In addition to that, a persistent cough can sometimes be a telltale symptom of cancer, especially thyroid cancer. The cough is considered the body’s way of getting read of undesired substances. In the case of lung cancer, for instance, the cough might be frequent and lead to hoarseness.
Fatigue
Another early sign of cancer is unexplained tiredness and fatigue. Tiredness that doesn’t seem to go away notwithstanding getting a sufficient amount of rest could be an indication of an underlying health issue, such as cancer. Tiredness is considered to be one of the most common signs. This symptom is usually prominent in leukemia.
Blood loss
Another symptom to pay attention to is an unusual blood loss. In some cancers, such as colon and rectal cancers, there might be bloody stools. It is worth mentioning that in some cancers, such as stomach cancer, blood loss might be discreet and consequently, harder to detect.
Furthermore, some cancers might cause skin changes. The latter are usually related to skin cancer. Skin changes due to skin cancer include warts getting enlarged and sores that don’t go away.
Although early stages of cancer do not always lead to noticeable symptoms, knowing the warning signs of cancer is crucial. Indeed there are definitely many cancer warning signs, but the ones listed above are considered the most common ones. If you observe any major changes in your body or the way you feel, you should definitely see your health care professional as soon as possible. In case the underlying problem is cancer, you will give yourself the chance to treat it early.
