Signs of cancer one should not ignore

In the past, cancer was considered a “death sentence”. With the advances in science and technology today, we know that cancer is curable. Beyond science the greatest weapon we have is public awareness. Detecting cancer early is of paramount importance in our fight against cancer. Here are a few simple symptoms/signs that every person should keep in mind and consult a doctor as early as possible.

Persistent cough or hoarseness
While a cough now and then is nothing to worry about, a consistent cough usually more than three weeks is definitely cause for concern. Most coughs are not cancer. But a persistent cough needs to be evaluated to see if it could be a lung cancer. Your physician should recommend a chest X-ray or CT scan to rule out cancer as a possibility.

Persistent change in bowel and bladder habits
When your bowel movements aren’t as easy as they once were or you have persistent diarrhoea or constipation, could be a sign of any gastro intestinal cancer. You will need an endoscopy/colonoscopy to evaluate further. When you have to strain to pass urine, have increased frequency of urination, blood/pain while passing urine, you should also consult a doctor to rule kidney/bladder/prostate cancer.

Loss of appetite
Persistent or long-term unexplained loss of appetite when you do not have any signs of other illness, you should consult a doctor to evaluate your gastrointestinal tract.

Change in the appearance of a mole
While not all moles are indicative of melanoma, spotting a new mark or one that has changed is something you should bring up with a
dermatologist who can screen for skin cancer

A sore or bruise that does not heal
If you have a sore or a bruise that's hanging on past the three-week mark, you should bring it up with your doctor and you should absolutely get that checked out. That kind of sore could be a sign of cancer.

Unexpected bleeding
Vaginal bleeding—outside of your normal cycle—could be an early sign of cervical cancer/uterine cancer, while bleeding from the rectum could indicate colon cancer. Blood in your sputum (coughing with blood) or in vomit are also signs of concern.

Unexplained weight loss or tiredness
As adults, we try very hard to lose weight but if weight is falling off you without any effort on your part that is a big concern and could be because of malignancy or a tumour.

An unexplained lump
Any time you have a lump that is new or a lump that is changing, that is something you should absolutely have looked at by your doctor. While it could be a benign cyst (and most likely is), it could also be a cancer. A lump in the breast, of course, is a very common symptom of breast cancer and needs to immediately look at.

Persistent indigestion or difficulty swallowing or pain during swallowing
Two cancers may be behind this symptom, including neck and esophageal cancer. People who see these symptoms will often start to modify their diets, eating softer foods, use antibiotics/anti-inflammatory tabs without thinking there could be a more serious issue.

Shortness of breath
Elderly people usually have shortness of breath on exertion and is ignored. But any sudden onset or increase in shortness of breath/breathlessness is definitely a worry and should be evaluated for lung cancer. (The writer is a MD, FUICC(USA) and (UK), Consultant Radiotion Oncologist)

By Dr P Vijay Karan Reddy