20 warning signs that cancer is growing in your body
Don’t just rely on routine tests to protect yourself from cancer. It’s also important to listen to your body and notice anything that feels different, strange, or unclear.
Here are some commonly overlooked signs:
1_Wheezing or shortness of breath
One of the first signs that many lung cancer patients notice is the inability to catch their breath.
2_Chronic cough or chest pain
Several types of cancer, including leukemia and lung tumors, can cause symptoms that mimic a bad cough or bronchitis. Some patients with lung cancer report chest pain that radiates to the shoulder or down the arm.
Did you know that cancer cells thrive in an acidic environment? Cancer cells thrive in an acidic environment, but cease to exist in an alkaline environment.
3_Frequent fevers or infections
These may be signs of leukemia, a cancer of the blood cells that begins in the bone marrow. Leukemia causes the bone marrow to produce abnormal white blood cells, which undermines the body’s ability to fight infection.
4_Difficulty swallowing
Swallowing problems are most often associated with cancer of the esophagus or throat, and are sometimes one of the first signs of lung cancer.
5_Swollen lymph nodes or lumps in the neck, under the arms or in the groin
Enlarged lymph nodes indicate changes in the lymphatic system, which can be a sign of cancer.
6_Excessive bruising or bleeding that does not stop
This symptom usually indicates something abnormal is happening with the platelets and red blood cells, which may be a sign of leukemia. Over time, leukemia cells crowd out red blood cells and platelets, impairing your blood’s ability to carry oxygen and clot.
7_Weakness and fatigue
General fatigue and weakness are symptoms of so many different types of cancer that you need to consider them in conjunction with other symptoms. But any time you feel unexplained exhaustion and unresponsive to sleep, talk to your doctor.
8_Abdominal Bloating or Weight
Gain Women diagnosed with ovarian cancer mostly report unexplained abdominal bloating that came on quite suddenly and continued to go on and off over a long period of time.
9_Feeling full and unable to eat
This is another clue about ovarian cancer; women say that they have no appetite and cannot eat, even if they have not eaten for some time.
10_Pelvic or Abdominal Pain
Pain and cramping in the pelvis and abdomen can go hand in hand with abdominal bloating, which often signals ovarian cancer. Leukemia can also cause abdominal pain due to an enlarged spleen.
11_Rectal bleeding or blood in the stool
This is a common result of diagnosing colorectal cancer. Blood in the toilet itself is a reason to see a doctor and schedule a colonoscopy.
12_Unexplained weight loss Weight
loss is an early sign of colon cancer and other cancers of the digestive system; it is also a sign of cancer that has spread to the liver, affecting your appetite and your body’s ability to get rid of waste.
13_Stomach
upset or stomach pain Stomach cramps or frequent stomach upsets may indicate colorectal cancer.
14_Red, painful or swollen breasts
These symptoms may indicate inflammatory breast cancer. Call your doctor about any unexplained breast changes.
15_Nipple changes.
One of the most common changes women remember before they are diagnosed with breast cancer is a nipple that has started to look flattened, inverted, or turned to one side.
16_Unusually heavy or painful periods or bleeding between periods.
Many women report this as a sign of endometrial or uterine cancer. Ask for a transvaginal ultrasound if you suspect something more than normal heavy periods.
17_Swelling of the facial
features Some patients with lung cancer report that they notice puffiness, swelling, or redness of the face. A small cell lung tumor usually blocks blood vessels in the chest, preventing blood from flowing freely from the head and face.
18_A sore or bump on the skin
that does not heal, crusts over, or bleeds easily. Learn about the different types of skin cancer—melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma—and be careful when checking your skin all over your body. for odd growths or spots.
19_Nail changes
Unexplained nail changes can be a sign of several types of cancer. A brown or black streak or dot under the nail may indicate skin cancer, while a newly discovered “pin” — an enlarged fingertip with the nail bent over the tips — may be a sign of lung cancer. Pale or white nails can sometimes be a sign of liver cancer.
20_Pain in the back or lower right side
Many cancer patients say that this was the first sign of liver cancer. Breast cancer is also often diagnosed because of back pain, which can occur when a breast tumor pushes back on the chest or when cancer spreads to the spine or ribs.
