Categories

Early Cancer Warning Signs

Signs of Cancer Common to Both Men and Women

There are certain signs of cancer you should be more conscious of. These early signs should not be ignored, immediately visit your doctor once you start experiencing them.

Appetite loss. This sign can also be traced to other conditions, from depression [1] to the flu, and cancer included. Cancer has this effect by changing your metabolism, the way your body turns food into energy. Specific cancers like stomach, pancreatic, colon, and ovarian cancers also can put pressure on your stomach and make you feel too full to eat.

Blood in the stool. Cancers can cause there to be blood in your stool. But so can a bunch of other things, like ulcers [2], hemorrhoids [3], infections, or a sore. When you see red in your poop, the blood is often from somewhere in your GI tract, meaning your esophagus, stomach, or intestines.

To determine where the blood is coming from, look closely at the color of the blood, how light or dark it looks. When it’s bright red it is more likely from your rectum or the end of your intestines. A darker color means it is more likely from higher up, like a stomach ulcer. No matter what the color of blood from your stool is, it is not a good sign, and need to be checked out. Your doctor will conduct a colonoscopy or other tests to find the problem.

Blood in the urine. This is a strong warning sign, it is usually linked to a problem in your urinary tract. Kidney or bladder cancer can cause this symptom, but it could also be due to an infection, kidney stones, or kidney disease.

Cough that doesn’t go away. A cold or the flu can make you hack away, but it’s also a potential symptom of lung cancer, along with red flags like chest pain, weight loss, hoarseness, fatigue, and shortness of breath. Book an appointment with your doctor if it doesn’t go away, especially if you’re a smoker.

Extreme fatigue. This is one of the most common cancer symptom. The type of fatigue or exhaustion that doesn’t go away. If changing your activity level or getting more sleep doesn’t make you perk up, see your doctor.