Nobody welcomes a cancer diagnosis. While some would rather know and get started on treatment right away, others may choose to avoid doctors and turn a blind eye to unusual symptoms.
But ignorance is far from bliss in this example. Wherever you land on this spectrum, you should know which symptoms should be evaluated.
Early detection relies on your proactivity and the faster you consult your trusted doctor, the better chance you have of beating some of these insidious diseases.
The 24/7 Tempo team reviewed the facts from sources like the Cleveland Clinic, the American Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute, and many more to discover the most ignored cancer symptoms.
1. Fatigue
There are days when you go extra hard at the gym, and you feel fatigued, needing extra rest. There may be periods when you are grieving and feeling depressed, which can also contribute to a general feeling of fatigue. However, fatigue may also be linked to different types of cancers. If you have been experiencing an extreme level of exhaustion while your body shows signs of weakness and there isn’t an obvious reason why, you should consult with your doctor. They can help to determine what the underlying cause may be and can identify what steps you need to take to restore your energy levels.
2. Unusual Bleeding
The presence of blood can be startling to anyone, but sometimes, it occurs in ways you may miss. There are some unusual bleeding instances that you should look out for. For example, abnormal vaginal bleeding, like bleeding between periods, could be a symptom of cancer. Blood in the stool or your urine could also be linked to cancer. Coughing up blood requires a doctor’s visit as well. Whenever you notice unusual bleeding, make sure to contact your doctor to determine what is causing the bleeding and to understand how to address the issue. The longer you let unusual symptoms like this persist, the worse your condition can get.
3. Sudden Weight Loss
If you’ve recently changed your diet and started a fitness program, you could expect to shed some weight. However, if you have been going about your routine without making changes to drop weight and you still experience sudden weight loss, this could be linked to a disease like cancer. Often, the cancers that cause the symptoms include colon and stomach cancer. Although weight loss is often celebrated, when it occurs suddenly, it calls for a visit to your medical care provider.
4. Lumps
When you catch a cold, you probably notice that your lymph nodes swell. This is your body‘s natural response as it works to fight off infection. However, this swelling may also be a response to cancer. If you notice swelling or unusual lumps, including in your breasts, be sure to contact your doctor to determine why they’ve appeared. Although lumps and masses aren’t always indicative of cancer, eliminating that possibility early on could grant you the peace of mind you need instead of the anxiety these findings often produce.
5. Oral Pain
Oral cancer is a possibility, especially for those who imbibe in vices like drinking and smoking. If you notice that there is a sore or lesion in your mouth that is consistently bothering you, be sure to consult a doctor to determine the reason why your body is responding this way. It may be easy to start chewing on one side of your mouth to avoid pain on the other side, but if you notice that there is discomfort in your mouth when drinking or eating, you need to figure out what’s going on by working with your doctor.
6. Extreme Bruising
Walking into your coffee table may produce a bruise on your shin just as much as a slip and fall could produce a more serious bruise on your bum. However, if you haven’t bumped into anything or suffered a fall and you’re noticing that there is excessive bruising appearing throughout your skin, this could be linked to blood cancer. It may be easy to overlook, especially during the winter months when you bundle up, but make sure you’re checking your body for any unusual bruising so you can be proactive if you notice something unusual.
7. Trouble Swallowing
If you’ve ever taken a medication that has dry mouth as a side effect, you know that feeling you get when it’s difficult to swallow dry food. You may have to resort to soups or extra hydration between bites to get it to pass. This sensation may also be linked to several types of cancer, including thyroid, throat, and lung cancer. If you’re feeling this discomfort when trying to swallow your food or even a beverage, be sure to let your doctor know what you’re experiencing so they can determine what’s going on.
8. Pelvic Pain
Women often experience pelvic pain as part of their menstrual cycles. This pain ranges from mild to severe, and each woman knows the phases of her cycle intimately. Although there may be times when there is a change to a woman’s menstrual cycle (like a late period or an unusually painful period), when pelvic pain persists, it’s cause for concern. Pelvic pain may be linked to various cancers, including ovarian and cervical cancer. Any abnormalities with a woman’s period should be evaluated to determine underlying causes.
9. Shifts in Bathroom Habits
If you tend to be more stuck in your head, you may not even notice some changes that occur in your bathroom habits. However, it’s important to practice a bit of mindfulness regularly to determine when something is askew. For example, difficulty urinating, constipation, or diarrhea can all be symptoms of an underlying type of cancer. Changes in your diet or activity levels can certainly trigger some of these changes, but when you notice that something is abnormal and persists, it’s time to call your doctor for an evaluation.
10. Bone Pain
Bone cancer has several early-detection symptoms, including bone pain. This type of pain may present as more of a dull ache, which may be difficult to notice, especially if you are always focused on other tasks. However, bone pain may also present as more of a shooting pain, which is sure to grab your attention. Other symptoms of bone cancer include bone fractures, so if you notice any of these symptoms, reach out to your doctor and schedule the next possible appointment.
11. Eyesight Changes and Pain
Changes to your eyes or eyesight tend to be more noticeable than some of the other symptoms in this list. You depend on your eyes for everything throughout the day, so when you notice something is different, it’s important to jot down the symptoms and call your healthcare provider. Symptoms like blurred vision or pain around your eyes can be linked to eye cancer. This isn’t always the case but it’s better to get evaluated early on before symptoms worsen.
12. Headaches
Items on your to-do list alone can trigger a headache. You might also skip breakfast or find yourself in a late meeting, and without any food in your system, a headache is triggered. These aren’t uncommon instances, but when you notice that there is a pattern to your headaches and that they occur more frequently than ever, this could be a symptom of a brain tumor. Brain tumors cause an array of symptoms, and headaches are one of the most common.
13. Bloating
After a particularly hefty meal, you may experience some bloating or excessive flatulence. This is especially the case if you have certain sensitivities, which is why the symptoms may be ignored by most. You may attribute the discomfort to a meal you had or to a carbonated beverage you enjoyed. However, when you experience excessive gas and bloating, this could be related to certain cancers like colon and ovarian cancers. (If you want to learn more about catching cancer, click here to read about 20 early, common, and vague symptoms of cancer.)