Cancer: Signs and symptoms to consider
Cancer anywhere in the body can produce generic symptoms such as losing more than 6 kg without dieting, always being very tired, or having pains that don’t go away.However, to arrive at the correct diagnosis it is necessary to perform a series of tests to rule out other hypotheses.
- Cancer is usually diagnosed when the person has very specific symptoms.
- Which may appear overnight.
- Without explanation.
- Or as a result of a disease that has not been adequately treated.
- How can this happen when a gastric ulcer turns into stomach cancer.
- For example? Find out what are the most common signs of stomach cancer.
Therefore, if you suspect, you should see your doctor for all the necessary tests, as diagnosing the cancer at an early stage increases your chances of recovery.
Rapid weight loss of up to 10% of the starting weight in 1 month, without diet or intense physical exercise is a common symptom in people who develop cancer, especially pancreatic, stomach or esophageological cancer, but other types may also appear.Learn about other conditions that can cause weight loss.
It is relatively common for people who develop cancer to develop anemia or blood loss through the stool, for example, resulting in a decrease in red blood cells and a reduction in blood oxygen, getting tired even during small tasks, such as climbing no or trying to make a bed, for example.
This fatigue can also occur in lung cancer, as the tumor can take several healthy cells and decrease respiratory function, leading to gradually worsening fatigue.In addition, people with more advanced cancer may also experience fatigue early in the morning after waking up, even if they have slept through the night.
Localized pain in a certain region is common in many cancers, such as the brain, bone, ovary, testicle, or intestine. In most cases, this pain is not relieved with rest and is not caused by excessive exercise or other diseases, such as arthritis or muscle damage. It is a persistent pain that does not go away with any alternatives such as hot or cold compresses, only with powerful painkillers.
Irregular fever can be a sign of cancer, such as leukemia or lymphoma, that occurs because the immune system is weakened. Fever usually occurs for a few days and goes away without the need to take medication, reappearing unstablely and unrelated to other symptoms such as the flu.
Bowel changes, such as very hard stools or diarrhea for more than 6 weeks, can be a sign of cancer. In addition, in some cases, there may also be major changes in the intestinal system, such as very hard stools for a few days and, on other days, diarrhea, as well as stomach swelling, blood in the stool, nausea and vomiting. .
This variation in stool profile should be persistent and not related to food and other intestinal diseases, such as the irritable bowel.
Patients who develop cancer may experience pain when urinating, bloody urine, and more frequent urination, which are more common signs of bladder or prostate cancer; However, this symptom is also common in urinary tract infections, so a urine test should be performed. to dismiss this hypothesis.
The appearance of sores in any area of the body, such as the mouth, skin or vagina, which take more than a month to heal, can also indicate cancer at an early stage, as the immune system is weaker and there is a decrease in platelets that are responsible for helping heal wounds.However, delayed recovery also occurs in diabetics, which may be a sign of uncontrolled diabetes.
Bleeding can also be a sign of cancer, which can occur in the early or later stage, and blood may appear in the cough, stool, urine, or nipple, for example, depending on the area of the body affected.
Vaginal bleeding other than menstruation, dark discharge, constant need to urinate, and menstrual cramps may indicate uterine cancer. Look for signs and symptoms that may indicate uterine cancer.
Cancer can cause skin changes, such as dark spots, yellowish skin, red or purple spots with stitching, and itchy rough skin.
In addition, changes in the color, shape, and size of a wart, sign, imperfection, or freckle may occur on the skin, which may indicate skin cancer or other cancer.
Bumps or lumps can appear anywhere in your body, such as your breasts or testicles.In addition, there may be swelling of the stomach, due to an enlarged liver, spleen and thymus and swelling of the tongues in the armpits, groin and neck, for example.This symptom may be present in several types of cancer.
In cancer patients, difficulty swallowing can occur, causing suffocation and persistent coughing, especially when the patient develops esophageal, stomach or pharynx cancer, for example.
Inflamed tongue in the neck and tongue, enlarged abdomen, paleness, sweating, purple spots on the skin and bone pain may indicate leukemia.
Persistent coughing, shortness of breath, and hoarse voice can be a sign of lung, larynx, or thyroid cancer, for example. Persistent dry cough with back pain, shortness of breath and severe fatigue may indicate lung cancer.
Other symptoms that may also indicate cancer in women include changes in breast size, redness, scab formation or skin sores near the nipple, and loss of nipple fluid, which may indicate breast cancer.
The presence of these symptoms does not always indicate the existence of a tumor, however, they may suggest the existence of some alteration and, therefore, it is important to see the doctor as soon as possible to assess the health status, especially people with a family history of cancer. .
If you suspect cancer, you should see your doctor for blood tests such as PSA, CEA, or CA 125, for example, and your values are usually increased.
In addition, your doctor may indicate an ultrasound or MRI to examine your organ and confirm suspected cancer, and in some cases another imaging or biopsy may be needed. See what blood tests detect the cancer.
After experiencing the type of cancer in the person, the doctor also indicates all the possibilities of treatment and even the rate of cure.
It is important to know the signs and symptoms of cancer and see your doctor as soon as you experience any of the signs or symptoms, as treatment is most effective when the cancer is diagnosed early and less likely to spread to other areas. the body, thus having a higher chance of recovery.
This way, no signs or symptoms should be ignored, especially if you have been around for more than a month.
Cancer can occur in anyone, at any stage of life and is characterized by a disordered growth of certain cells, which can compromise the functioning of certain organs. This disordered growth can occur quickly and symptoms appear within a few weeks, or it can occur slowly, and after many years, the first symptoms appear.
Cancer can also be linked to complications such as worsening diseases, but there are other related factors, such as smoking, eating high-fat foods, and exposure to heavy metals.
After a cancer diagnosis, your doctor should also indicate the stage of the tumor and treatment options, as they may vary depending on the person’s age, type of tumor, and stage. Options include:
To remove the entire tumor, part of it, or even other tissues that may be affected. This type of cancer treatment is indicated for tumors such as colon, breast and prostate because they are easier to operate.
It consists of exposure to ionizing radiation that can decrease the size of the tumor and may be indicated before or after surgery.
The patient does not feel anything during treatment, but after the radiation therapy session may have side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, redness or sensitive skin, which last only a few days. Rest is important for patient recovery after the radiation therapy session.
It is characterized by taking a cocktail of medications, in the form of pills or injections, which are given in the hospital or treatment center.
Chemotherapy may consist of a single medicine or a combination of medications and can be taken in tablet or injectable form. Side effects of chemotherapy are multiple such as anemia, hair loss, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, oral sores or changes in fertility. Long-term chemotherapy can also cause leukemia, a blood cancer, although it is rare. Find out what needs to be done to mitigate the side effects of chemotherapy.
These are medications that allow the body to recognize cancer cells and fight them more effectively. Most immunotherapy treatments are injectable and work throughout the body, which can cause symptoms of allergic reactions such as rashes or itching, fever, headache, muscle pain or nausea.
These are pills used to fight hormones that may be related to tumor growth. Side effects of hormone therapy depend on the medication used or surgery, but may include impotence, menstrual changes, infertility, breast tenderness, nausea, headache or vomiting.
It can be used in cases of blood cell cancer, such as leukemia, and is intended to replace diseased bone marrow with normal bone marrow cells. Before transplantation, the individual is treated with high doses of chemotherapy or radiation therapy to destroy cancer or normal bone marrow cells, and then receives a healthy bone marrow transplant from another compatible person. Side effects of bone marrow transplantation may include infections, anemia, or rejection of a healthy bone marrow.
Phosphoethanolamine is a test-phase substance, which appears to be effective in the fight against cancer, increasing its chances of recovery. This substance is able to identify and eliminate cancer cells, but more studies are needed to demonstrate its effectiveness.
These treatments must be guided by the oncologist and can be used alone or in combination to reduce the risk of metastasis, which occurs when the tumor spreads to other areas of the body, and also to increase the chances of recovery.