To find cancer early, while it’s small, less likely to have metastasized and is likely to
be easier to successfully treat and cure, you should: 1) know and look for the signs
and symptoms of cancer and, 2) have the recommended cancer screening exams.
Some common cancers or pre-cancerous conditions can be detected and treated
before symptoms appear. A variety of screening tests can also help determine if
health-related symptoms and signs are caused by a cancer.
Signs and symptoms of cancer
Signs are manifestations (like weight loss) that can be detected by an individual
and someone else. A symptom is something (like weakness or pain) that is felt or
noticed by the person who has it. Both can be indications of injury, illness, or disease.
For the detection of cancer, a good rule is not to ignore signs and symptoms,
especially if they are of a long duration or are getting worse.
Since cancer can affect almost any part of the body, it can cause a wide variety of
signs and symptoms. Sometimes even a very small tumor can cause symptoms.
Cancers of the pancreas and ovary are examples of tumors that frequently cause few
symptoms until they have grown large and metastasized. A cancer may also cause
symptoms such as fever, fatigue or weight loss that are neither specific to any part
of the body nor unique to cancer because many other health conditions can cause
the same signs and symptoms.
Signs and symptoms that warrant further investigation
include unexplained weight loss, fever, fatigue, pain, change in bowel habits
or bladder function, sores that do not heal, white patches inside the mouth or white
spots on the tongue, unusual bleeding or discharge, persistent cough or hoarseness,
thickening or lump in the breast or other parts of the body, indigestion or trouble
swallowing, and a recent change in a wart or mole or any new skin change.
This blog presents opinions and ideas and is intended to provide helpful general information. I am not engaged in rendering advice or services to the individual reader. The ideas, procedures and suggestions in that are presented are not in any way a substitute for the advice and care of the reader’s own physician or other medical professional based on the reader’s own individual conditions, symptoms or concerns. If the reader needs personal medical, health, dietary, exercise or other assistance or advice the reader should consult a physician and/or other qualified health professionals. The author specifically disclaims all responsibility for any injury, damage or loss that the reader may incur as a direct or indirect consequence of following any directions or suggestions given in this blog or participating in any programs described in this blog or in the book, The Building Blocks of Health––How to Optimize Your Health with a Lifestyle Checklist (available in print or downloaded at Amazon, Apple, Barnes and Noble and elsewhere). Copyright 2021 by J. Joseph Speidel.
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