There are over 200 different types of cancer that can cause many different symptoms
here are over 200 different types of cancer which can cause many different symptoms.
Men and women should look out for the following symptoms:
An unusual lump or swelling anywhere on your body
Many men know that any unusual lump in their testicle should be checked out. And women are generally aware that they should see a doctor about an unusal breast lump.
But persistent lumps in other parts of the body should also be taken seriously. This includes lumps and swellings in your neck, armpit, abdomen, groin or breast area.
If these symptoms last for three weeks or more, they could be signs of cancer. A good time to notice unusual lumps and bumps is in the bath or shower.
A change in size, shape or colour of a moleMost moles remain harmless throughout our lives. But new moles that appear, ones that change over weeks or months, or ones that are crusty or ooze, should be checked out by a doctor.
It’s important to keep an eye on your skin and look out for changes – ask your partner or a friend to check areas you can’t see, such as your back. This is particularly important if you have fair, freckly or moley skin that tends to burn easily.
A sore that won’t heal after several weeksOur skin repairs itself very quickly, and any damage usually heals within a week or so. When a spot, wart or sore doesn’t heal and lasts for several weeks, it could need treatment. Even if it is painless, you should see your doctor.
A mouth or tongue ulcer that lasts longer than three weeksMany people get mouth ulcers when they are run down and this is usually nothing to worry about. The lining of the mouth renews itself every two weeks or so, which is why ulcers usually don’t last longer than that. But any single ulcer that lasts for longer than three weeks without healing could be a sign of mouth cancer and should be reported to your doctor.
A cough or croaky voice that lasts longer than three weeksA cough and croaky voice are common symptoms of a cold. They often go away after a week or so and usually aren’t signs of anything serious. But if they last for longer than three weeks, if you cough up blood, or if an existing cough gets worse, you should go to your doctor. If you smoke you should pay extra attention to these symptoms, as you are more likely to suffer from throat and lung diseases.
Persistent difficulty swallowing or indigestionA number of medical conditions can make it difficult to swallow. But if you are having difficulty swallowing and the problem doesn’t go away after a couple of weeks, it should be checked out.
It is normal to feel slight discomfort or pain sometimes after eating a large, fatty or spicy meal. But if you are experiencing indigestion a lot, or if it is particularly painful, then you should see your doctor.
Problems passing urineAs men get older they often have problems passing urine. They may find they need to pass urine urgently or more often, are unable to go when they need to, or experience pain when they do. These symptoms are usually caused by a common medical condition that causes the prostate gland to enlarge. Less commonly, these symptoms can be caused by prostate cancer. If you’re having any of these problems, you should see your doctor.
For women, infections are the most common cause of pain and difficulty passing urine. But needing to pass urine urgently or more often than usual could be a sign of cancer of the bladder, ovary or lining of the womb and should be checked out.
Blood in your urineBlood in your urine should always be reported to a doctor. Usually it isn’t caused by cancer and can be treated quickly and easily. But it could be a sign of something more serious. Either way, the best thing to do is to go to your doctor.
Blood in your bowel motionsThe most common cause of blood in the bowel motions is piles. This condition is brought on by straining when going to the toilet. But blood in your bowel movements can be a symptom of a more serious condition such as bowel cancer, so it’s very important to get it checked out.
A change to more frequent bowel motions that lasts longer than six weeksStomach bugs and food poisoning are the most usual causes of loose, frequent bowel motions, or diarrhoea. This doesn’t usually last long, clearing up within a few days. If you have noticed a change in your bowel habits lasting longer than six weeks, it could be a more serious bowel problem.
Most cases of bowel cancer are in older people, with more than nine out of ten cases in people over 50. If you’re younger, bowel changes are likely to be caused by other medical conditions. But if you have noticed any lasting bowel changes, you should see your doctor.
Unexplained weight loss or heavy night sweatsSmall weight changes over time are quite normal. But if you have noticeably lost weight without dieting, this could be a sign of cancer and should be checked out.
Heavy night sweats can be brought on by infections and certain medications in both men and women. They are also often experienced by women around the time of the menopause. But heavy night sweats can also be caused by certain types of cancer. Experiencing night sweats and unexplained weight loss together can suggest cancer, and you should see your doctor.
An unexplained pain or ache that lasts longer than four weeksPain is one of our bodies’ ways of telling us that something is wrong. As we get older, many of us have aches and pains. It can be very difficult to know whether something is serious or not. In general, you should check out any continuous unexplained pain, or any unexplained pain that comes and goes over a period longer than four weeks.
Only For women:
An unusual breast change
Lumps are not the only changes to the breast that should be reported to a doctor. Also look out for any change in size, shape or feel of a breast, a change to the skin texture, redness, a nipple change or pain in one breast.
Bleeding from the vagina after the menopause or between periods>Bleeding between periods, or ‘spotting’ as it is sometimes known, is a fairly common side effect of the contraceptive pill. But bleeding from the vagina between periods, after sex or after the menopause can sometimes be a sign of a more serious problem and should be checked out.
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