SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF CANCER

Symptoms of cancer may vary but with any one or more of the following symptoms you should seek expert medical advice without delay. Very often the symptoms may be nothing to do with cancer, but if it is cancer the quicker you are seen by a doctor the better.

As a cancer grows, it begins to push on nearby organs, blood vessels, and nerves. This pressure creates some of the signs and symptoms of cancer. If the cancer is in a critical area, such as certain parts of the brain, even the smallest tumor can cause early symptoms.

Sometimes people ignore symptoms either because they do not know that the symptoms could mean something is wrong or because they are frightened by what they might mean and don't want to seek medical help. General symptoms, such as fatigue, are more likely to have a cause other than cancer and can seem unimportant, especially if they have an obvious cause or only last a short time. In a similar way, a person may reason that a more specific symptom like a breast mass is probably a cyst that will go away by itself. But neither of these symptoms should be discounted or overlooked, especially if they have been present for a long time or are getting worse.

These are many signs and symptoms that may caused by cancer.

General cancer signs and symptoms : unexplained weight loss, fever, fatigue, pain, skin changes.
Specific cancer signs and symptoms : change in bowel habits or bladder function, sores that do not heal, unusual bleeding or discharge, thickening or lump in breast or other parts of the body, indigestion or trouble swallowing, recent change in a wart or mole, nagging cough or hoarseness.

While the signs and symptoms listed above are the more common ones seen with cancer, there are many others that are less common and are not listed here. If you notice any major changes in the way your body functions or the way you feel, especially if it lasts for a long time or gets worse, let your doctor know. If it has nothing to do with cancer, your doctor can investigate it and treat it, if needed. If it is cancer, you'll give yourself the best chance to have it treated early, when treatment is most likely to be effective.

sources : cancer.org, menshealth.about.com