Most people who get cancer are 50 and older, but it can happen at any age. People get this disease from inside their bodies, and it starts in their cells. In normal circumstances, each cell has genes that tell it how to grow and die. When these genes get mixed up and the cells start to form lumps or tumors or spread through the bloodstream to other parts of the body, this can make us sick.
Now, lung cancer is the most common type of cancer in Canada. Breast and colorectal cancer are also very common in Canada.
Cancer has a huge impact on your body, your emotions, and your finances. Keep an eye out for changes in how your body feels, and don't ignore them. The most important thing is to get checked out by a health care professional on a regular basis.
In this post, we'll show you nine signs and symptoms of cancer that you should not ignore.
1. A change in how you eat or drink.
Any sudden changes in your bowel and bladder habits that you think are not normal for you, like diarrhea or constipation or a change in the consistency of your stool, could be signs and symptoms of colon cancer, which is a type of cancer in the colon. Having blood in your urine, having a lot of urges to urinate, or having pain when you urinate could be signs of bladder or prostate cancer.
Sore that doesn't go away: 2.
They might look like a spot that doesn't get better, itches or hurts. It might be scabbed or crusty. It could also be areas where the skin has broken down (an ulcer) and doesn't heal for more than 4 weeks. If a sore in the mouth lasts a long time, it could be a sign of oral cancer.
3. Bleeding or discharge that isn't normal.
There are many signs of endometrial or cervical cancer in women who have unusual vaginal bleeding or irregular changes in their menstrual cycle that happen.
In this case, the breasts or other parts of the body may become thicker or lumpy.
"Just a lump," because most lumps aren't caused by cancer, is how people often think about them. Mostly, these cancers happen in the breast, testicle, lymph nodes (glands), and the soft tissues of the body. A lump caused by cancer is usually hard, irregularly shaped, and firmly attached to the surface of the skin or to the inside of the body. As a rule, cancerous lumps don't hurt, but some types of them are painful. Whether or not the lump is cancerous, it's better to see a doctor.
This is number five: indigestion or trouble swallowing.
For most people, indigestion is not a sign of cancer. Indigestion is a common problem that most of us have from time to time, but we often don't pay attention to it. But if you get indigestion a lot or it comes on quickly and is very painful, you should see your doctor. This could be a sign of stomach cancer. Having trouble with swallowing could be a sign of esophageal cancer.
6. A wart or mole that looks different.
If you have skin cancer at an early stage, you may not show any signs at all. Most melanomas start out as new skin growths on skin that isn't already marked. Color, shape, or size can all change with the growth. These changes are a sign that the growth is melanoma. Men and women are more likely to get it on their upper backs than anywhere else. On older people, the neck, scalp, face, and ears are the most common places to find a cut or scrape on.
7. A persistent cough or sore throat.
A cough that doesn't go away could be a sign of lung cancer, but it's not always. Hoarseness can be a sign of cancer in the larynx (voice box) or the thyroid gland, which can make it hard to speak.
8. Unknown anemia.
Bowel cancers are the most common cause of iron deficiency anemia. Many cancers can make you weak, but bowel cancers are the most common cause. Endoscopies or X-rays of your upper and lower digestive tracts should be part of your evaluation.
9. A sudden loss of weight.
Most people who have cancer will lose weight at some point, but not all of them will. An unexplained weight loss is when you lose weight for no known reason, without dieting or exercising, and you don't know why. The first sign of cancer might be a weight loss of about 5kg or more that doesn't make sense. In most cases, this happens when someone has a cancer of the pancreas, the stomach, the esophagus (the tube that helps people eat and drink), or their lung.
There are other signs and symptoms of cancer that aren't on this list. If you notice any changes in how your body works or how it feels, tell your doctor about them.
