Welcome, Guest: Register On Nairaland / LOGIN! / Trending / Recent / New
Stats: 3,150,583 members, 7,809,114 topics. Date: Thursday, 25 April 2024 at 11:37 PM

15 Early Signs Of Cancer - Health - Nairaland

Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Health / 15 Early Signs Of Cancer (21807 Views)

13 Early Signs You May Be Pregnant / Ebola Victims Now Stable, Five Showing Signs Of Recovery - Fashola / Early Signs Of Pregnancy (2) (3) (4)

(1) (2) (3) (Reply) (Go Down)

15 Early Signs Of Cancer by Nobody: 1:39pm On Jul 25, 2012
Yesterday, Ghana's President John Atta Mills succumbed to Cancer of the throat. Our own former President Umaru Yar'adua, though infected by a cocktail of diseases, also had lung cancer among the potpourri of ailments that felled him 2 years ago. From Tayo Aderinokun (ex-CEO, GTB) to Bayo Ligali (ex-CEO, Zain) to Ibrahim Jega (ex-ED, UBA) to Alaire Alaibe, the C-disease has been ravaging the land. We will be wallowing in deceit if we think only the VIPs play host to the Big-C. Truth is many common men and women also die on daily basis from Cancer affliction.

Early detection, medical experts have emphasized, can go a long way in minimizing, if not checking outright, cancer infection. I find the article below illuminating.
Re: 15 Early Signs Of Cancer by Nobody: 1:40pm On Jul 25, 2012
Spotting the warning signs of cancer early is often crucial to treating the disease effectively. While that means scheduling regular checkups with your doctor and making sure you’re getting the screening tests you need when you need them, it’s just as important to be watching for any subtle changes to how you’re feeling. After all, no one knows your body better than you — so it’s crucial that you pay attention to and follow up on anything that seems out of the ordinary. Here are 15 possible warning signs of cancer that every woman should watch for.

1, Unexplained Weight Loss
Realizing that you suddenly fit into your skinny jeans may seem like a pleasant surprise — but the reality is that unexplained weight loss (or weight gain, for that matter) is usually a red flag. If you've lost 10 pounds or more in less than a month (without changing your diet or exercise routine), you should see your doctor.
Unexplained weight loss can be an early sign of pancreatic, stomach, esophageal or lung cancer (as well as other health problems, like an overactive thyroid, diabetes, depression or liver disease).

2, Changes to Your Breasts
Most women recognize a lump in their breast as something that should be checked out by a doctor. But there are other changes to your breasts that could also signal cancer. If you notice any of the following, let your doctor know:
• redness or thickening of skin around the breast
• cellulite-like dimples or a red or purplish discoloration in the skin
• your breasts feel hot, swollen or irritated
In addition, if you notice an unusual nipple discharge, or if you notice changes to you nipple (like suddenly appearing flattened, inverted or turned sideways), report the changes to a doctor.

3, Bleeding Between Periods
Every woman's period is different, and for some women, spotting is common. But if you're typically regular and start bleeding between periods, or if you bleed after reaching menopause, let your doctor know. Nine in 10 women with endometrial cancer report irregular bleeding as an early sign. Also, some women mistake bleeding from their gastrointestinal tract as spotting or as their period. GI tract bleeding can be an early sign of colorectal cancer.
Re: 15 Early Signs Of Cancer by Nobody: 1:41pm On Jul 25, 2012
4, Bloating
It's normal to feel bloated once in awhile, especially after a big meal or during your period. But if that bloated feeling persists for more than a couple of weeks or continues to get worse, talk to your doctor. Also let your doctor know if you experience bloating in conjunction with feeling unusually full, a change to your bowel or bladder habits, or low back or pelvic pain. Those are often the early symptoms of ovarian cancer.

5, Skin Changes
Most women know that a yearly skin check to spot any new moles (or changes to existing moles) is the best way to spot skin cancer while it's easily treatable. But other skin changes can also signal skin cancer. Tell your doctor if you notice any waxy lumps, scaly skin patches, or spot a sore or rash that doesn't heal.
Also note if you have any excessive bruising — especially on the fingers and hands — or if you notice any skin bleeding that seems unusually hard to stop (both are an early sign of leukemia). If you've monitored any skin abnormalities for more than a few weeks and have noticed no improvement, consult your doctor.

6, Constant Fatigue
Balancing work or school, family obligations and hitting the gym — all while trying to maintain some semblance of a social life — can make you feel like you’re always on the go. It’s completely normal for most women to feel tired and run down from time to time. But if your fatigue doesn't let up after getting rest, head to your doctor. Prolonged fatigue is a sign of many different types of cancers, or may signal another health problem, like a thyroid condition or iron imbalance.
Re: 15 Early Signs Of Cancer by Nobody: 1:41pm On Jul 25, 2012
7, Difficulty Swallowing
Having problems swallowing could be an early symptom of esophageal, throat, lung or thyroid cancer. If you have pressure in your throat or feel like something is stuck in your windpipe, see your doctor.

8, A Chronic Cough
Coughs are most often caused by allergies or infections. And while they may linger as you recover from the flu or a cold, having a cough that doesn't go away or that is accompanied by chest pain is a symptom of many types of cancer, including lung cancer. If you have a cough that lasts more than 3 to 4 weeks, or if your cough goes away and then reappears consistently, make an appointment with your doctor.

9, Feeling Unusually Full
Constantly feeling full despite having eaten little, or experiencing a prolonged loss of appetite could be a tip-off to ovarian cancer (as well as other, less serious health problems like GERD or IBS). If the feelings persist over a period of a few weeks, or if they're accompanied by vomiting, bloating, a fever or weight loss or weight gain, let your doctor know.
Re: 15 Early Signs Of Cancer by Nobody: 1:42pm On Jul 25, 2012
10, Swollen Lymph Nodes
Changes in your lymphatic system are most often due to an infection — but in some cases, swollen, firm lymph nodes in the armpit, groin, or neck could be a sign of danger. If the swelling continues for more than a month, or the swollen glands seem to be getting bigger, see your doctor.

11, Shortness of Breath
If you frequently have difficulty breathing, especially when you’re not doing anything strenuous, it could signal a more serious health problem, including lung or thyroid cancer. You may also be suffering from bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism or other heart or lung problems — all of which require prompt medical attention.

12, Frequent Fevers
Often times, a fever is a welcome sign — it signals that your body is fighting off an infection. But if you have a persistent fever that isn’t explained by an infection, it may signal a blood cancer like leukemia or lymphoma. A fever that lasts more than four days warrants a call to your doctor.
Re: 15 Early Signs Of Cancer by Nobody: 1:43pm On Jul 25, 2012
13, Changes to Nails
Your nails suffer a lot of normal wear and tear every day, and it isn’t unusual for them to suffer bangs that can leave white spots or bruising. Plus, everyone’s nails look different — some people naturally have weaker, peeling or otherwise less-than-perfect nails — and that’s also normal. However, there are instances where unexplained nail changes can point to more serious problems. Dark streaks or spots under your nails could indicate skin cancer, while having pale nails could mean liver cancer.

14, Blood in Your Urine or Stool
Blood in your stool can be caused by several different medical conditions, including hemorrhoids, anal fissures or cracks, inflammation of the colon or peptic ulcers. However, it’s also a sign of colorectal cancer.
Blood in your urine can signal bladder or kidney infections or stones, an enlarged prostate; it may also be the result of certain medications, or over-vigorous exercise. But in some cases, blood in the urine can indicate bowel or kidney cancer. If you see blood in your urine or stool, it’s important to let your doctor know, so that he or she can pinpoint the cause.

15, Persistent Pain
We all have days where we feel achy or sore. But chronic, persistent pain isn’t something you should write off as a side effect of aging or over-exercising. Back pain, pelvic or abdominal pain and even what seems like a run-of-the mill stomachache or indigestion can signal many different types of cancer, from liver, pancreatic and breast to ovarian, endometrial and colorectal. If you can’t find a plausible cause for the pain you’re feeling, and if it continues to dog you, talk to a doctor.

SOURCE: http://www.medhelp.org/cancer/slideshows/15-Cancer-Symptoms-Women-Ignore/399/15

11 Likes

Re: 15 Early Signs Of Cancer by nikkyshyne(f): 1:46pm On Jul 25, 2012
Nice. Thankx for sharing.
Re: 15 Early Signs Of Cancer by comechop(m): 2:13pm On Jul 25, 2012
Basically - if you feel sick or have weird symptoms, stop acting like a macho man and go see your doctor. finise!

4 Likes

Re: 15 Early Signs Of Cancer by Uch87: 2:14pm On Jul 25, 2012
Thanks for the info.
Re: 15 Early Signs Of Cancer by Nobody: 2:14pm On Jul 25, 2012
God forbid this Cancer thing sha... Each time i think bout the number of people that are gone as a result of cancer i get scared a bit.. The most scary part is that it can happen to anyone and can take anyone..

May God protect us all against any form of terminal disease...

1 Like

Re: 15 Early Signs Of Cancer by Lollyij(m): 2:16pm On Jul 25, 2012
What of postrate cancer, someone shld enlighten me on it
Re: 15 Early Signs Of Cancer by Nobody: 2:16pm On Jul 25, 2012
Good one.very cogent and straight-to-the-point explanation.thumbs up .
Re: 15 Early Signs Of Cancer by kaiter: 2:24pm On Jul 25, 2012
Thank very much![img]http://www.lzxin.info/g.php[/img]
Re: 15 Early Signs Of Cancer by chioma134: 2:28pm On Jul 25, 2012
Prostate cancer should be screened for yearly in men above 40years. Symptoms include difficulty and pain on urination, hesitancy, terminal dribbling,poor urine stream. Also there may be weight loss, bone pains, and constitutional symptoms in advanced cases.
Re: 15 Early Signs Of Cancer by Eddy2010(m): 2:37pm On Jul 25, 2012
when i knew this cancer of a thing is getting weird was on 14th April 2012 when the blood type cancer called leukemia stole life out of my mumcy at the age of 58. Now its Attah Mills. Who knows the next victim! Anyway, we still crave the Almighty God's indulgence to help us Limit the scope and intensity of this Monster called Cancer. Amen!
Re: 15 Early Signs Of Cancer by digitite: 2:41pm On Jul 25, 2012
we should eat more organic food and keep our environment free from pollution.

The future is green economy.

1 Like

Re: 15 Early Signs Of Cancer by StarrMatthieu: 2:43pm On Jul 25, 2012
Look good
Re: 15 Early Signs Of Cancer by Homar(m): 2:44pm On Jul 25, 2012
My neigbour died of cancer of d throat . Later browsed it and found out that it happens to people from 50 years and above and rarely happen to people above 40 years of age .
Re: 15 Early Signs Of Cancer by ACM10: 2:45pm On Jul 25, 2012
There is no specific early sign of cancer. Most of the symptoms and signs you mentioned are also associated with late-stage malignancy. Cancer can occur in any body tissue, and each one presents with unique symptoms. Some of the symptoms that you mentioned can occur in terminal stage of cancer.

BTW, SIGNS and SYMPTOMS connotes different meaning.
SIGN: an indication of a particular disorder that is observed by a physician but is not apparent to the patient.
SYMPTOM: an indication of a disease or disorder noticed by the patient himself.
In essence, a layman can never notice any sign, but a physician can pick up the signs of a particular disorder from a patient.

Since there are no specific early symptom of cancer, there are factors that warns a patient of the probability of developing of cancer. Those factors are collectively called Risk Factors. Some of them are, positive family history, cigarette smoking, intake of oral contraceptive pill, exposure to radiation, risky sexual behaviour, etc

It is advised that people should subject themselves to thorough medical examinations every 2yrs after the age of 40

1 Like

Re: 15 Early Signs Of Cancer by OkikiOluwa1(m): 2:55pm On Jul 25, 2012
Thanks.
Re: 15 Early Signs Of Cancer by Nobody: 3:07pm On Jul 25, 2012
ACM10: There is no specific early sign of cancer. Most of the symptoms and signs you mentioned are associated with malignancy. Cancer can occur in any body tissue, and each one presents with a unique symptom. Some of the symptoms that you mentioned can occur in terminal stage of cancer.

BTW, SIGNS and SYMPTOMS connotes different meaning.
SIGN: an indication of a particular disorder that is observed by a physician but is not apparent to the patient.
SYMPTOM: an indication of a disease or disorder noticed by the patient himself.
In essence, a layman can never notice any sign, but a physician can pick up the signs of a particular disorder from a patient.

Since there are no specific early symptom of cancer, there are factors that warns a patient of the probability of developing of cancer. Those factors are collectively called Risk Factors. Some of them are, positive family history, cigarette smoking, intake of oral contraceptive pill, exposure to radiation, risky sexual behaviour, etc

It is advised that people should subject themselves to thorough medical examinations every 2yrs after the age of 40
Pls sir, what do mean by that?
Re: 15 Early Signs Of Cancer by ACM10: 3:12pm On Jul 25, 2012
Lollyij: What of postrate cancer, someone shld enlighten me on it

Nice question! This is a form of cancer that grabs my interest immediately it's mentioned. I'm so much interested in it because it runs in my family. My great-grandfather suffered it. My grandfather got his prostate removed in 1990. Two of my granny's brothers has already done a prostate removal surgery called called prostatectomy. It reoccured in one of them and he has since succumbed to it.

Prostate is only found in men. It functions to nourish the spe[b]r[/b]m. It is the only organ that continues to grow throughout life. Its diseases can be prostatitis, benign prostatic hypertrophy, prostate cancer, etc. Prostate cancer is a disease of the elderly. It occurs in mostly people that are 50 and above. Though it might occur much earlier. Its symptom can vary. But some of the important ones are hematuria, waist pain, constipation, urinary incontinence, weight loss or even dysuria, urgency, terminal dribbling, frequency, weak stream, etc. Its symptom is related to its degree of spread.
It can be detected early, and when this is done, surgeons aims for a cure. Some investigative modalities like Prostate Specific Antigen(PSA) can predict the transformation in the prostate. The result of the PSA will guide the surgeon on whether to perform biopsy. The treatment is often called radical prostatectomy. Again the choice of the surgery is determined by the degree of spread of the cancer.
In late stage presentation, surgeons aims at palliation. This involves the removal of the influences that aids the growth and the spread of the cancer. Surgeons often remove the testis with the administration of drugs that blocks the androgen production in the body. They call it total androgen blocade. The aim at this stage is to alleviate the patients
symptoms and prolong his life.
Re: 15 Early Signs Of Cancer by ACM10: 3:19pm On Jul 25, 2012
blogger1.0:

Pls sir, what do mean by that?

Sorry, I mean risky se[b]x[/b]ual behaviour. Engaging in indiscriminate se[b]x[/b]ual activities without protection. Risky se[b]x[/b]ual behaviour can predispose one to the infection by human pappiloma virus(HPV) and hepatitis B & C. The two viruses has been implicated in the induction and progression of Cervical cancer and Liver cancer respectively
Re: 15 Early Signs Of Cancer by charloski(m): 3:51pm On Jul 25, 2012
Wow really cool ... Thanks mehm @ Poster.
Re: 15 Early Signs Of Cancer by oladayo042: 4:01pm On Jul 25, 2012
Thanks Oga Jarus.
Re: 15 Early Signs Of Cancer by jaydeeking(m): 4:22pm On Jul 25, 2012
Tanx 4 d post its really educating pls more of it.cheers
Re: 15 Early Signs Of Cancer by express101: 4:24pm On Jul 25, 2012
Lollyij: What of postrate cancer, someone shld enlighten me on it

Prostate cancer is the enlargement of the prostate - a walnut-size organ in every male. Men of black origin are of higher risk and should start prostate exams from about age 40. Symptoms usually don't present early, and when u start feeling symptomatic, chances are that it might have spread. If sm1 has had it in ur lineage, u should be more proactive. Symptoms include: painful urination, delay in passing urine, frequent urination... H/ever, having these doesn't necessarily mean u have prostate cancer
Re: 15 Early Signs Of Cancer by ibsmooth: 4:34pm On Jul 25, 2012
Good one bro
Re: 15 Early Signs Of Cancer by kandiikane(m): 4:49pm On Jul 25, 2012
ACM10:

Sorry, I mean risky se[b]x[/b]ual behaviour. Engaging in indiscriminate se[b]x[/b]ual activities without protection. Risky se[b]x[/b]ual behaviour can predispose one to the infection by human pappiloma virus(HPV) and hepatitis B & C. The two viruses has been implicated in the induction and progression of Cervical cancer and Liver cancer respectively

The thing is it's not just risky se.xual behaviour, you can still get hpv just by sleeping with one person.----(Mistaken)Most sexu.ally active people will get it at one point in their lifetime.

For the contraceptive pill, it says you are at a higher risk of getting cancer(I think cervical cancer) using it for more than 5years but it also says it reduces your chance of getting cancer(I think breast cancer).

I don't know whether they have the hpv vaccination in Nigeria.
Re: 15 Early Signs Of Cancer by Nobody: 4:49pm On Jul 25, 2012
@op most of the signs u mentioned are 4 women. Hw abt 4 men 2, dnt u tink evy1 deserves 2 be educated
Re: 15 Early Signs Of Cancer by vanstanzy(m): 5:05pm On Jul 25, 2012
Jarus: 13, Changes to Nails
Your nails suffer a lot of normal wear and tear every day, and it isn’t unusual for them to suffer bangs that can leave white spots or bruising. Plus, everyone’s nails look different — some people naturally have weaker, peeling or otherwise less-than-perfect nails — and that’s also normal. However, there are instances where unexplained nail changes can point to more serious problems. Dark streaks or spots under your nails could indicate skin cancer, while having pale nails could mean liver cancer.

14, Blood in Your Urine or Stool
Blood in your stool can be caused by several different medical conditions, including hemorrhoids, anal fissures or cracks, inflammation of the colon or peptic ulcers. However, it’s also a sign of colorectal cancer.
Blood in your urine can signal bladder or kidney infections or stones, an enlarged prostate; it may also be the result of certain medications, or over-vigorous exercise. But in some cases, blood in the urine can indicate bowel or kidney cancer. If you see blood in your urine or stool, it’s important to let your doctor know, so that he or she can pinpoint the cause.

15, Persistent Pain
We all have days where we feel achy or sore. But chronic, persistent pain isn’t something you should write off as a side effect of aging or over-exercising. Back pain, pelvic or abdominal pain and even what seems like a run-of-the mill stomachache or indigestion can signal many different types of cancer, from liver, pancreatic and breast to ovarian, endometrial and colorectal. If you can’t find a plausible cause for the pain you’re feeling, and if it continues to dog you, talk to a doctor.

SOURCE: http://www.medhelp.org/cancer/slideshows/15-Cancer-Symptoms-Women-Ignore/399/15

Guy, Thanks for the 411.
Re: 15 Early Signs Of Cancer by rodeo0070(m): 5:06pm On Jul 25, 2012
Eddy2010: when i knew this cancer of a thing is getting weird was on 14th April 2012 when the blood type cancer called leukemia stole life out of my mumcy at the age of 58. Now its Attah Mills. Who knows the next victim! Anyway, we still crave the Almighty God's indulgence to help us Limit the scope and intensity of this Monster called Cancer. Amen!
Sorry for your loss. I feel ur pain bro deeply
I lost my younger brother (Graduate) aged 24 on May 2, 2012 to Leukaemia (cancer that affects the blood cells). The strange thing was that he never manifested any of the symptons listed except for his loss of weight, bleedin gums (which we attributed to his regular visit to his Dentist). But aside from these, he looked ok.
The only treatment is God's factor and early diagnosis cos if its too late you are a dead man walking.

(1) (2) (3) (Reply)

10 Patients Go Blind After Injection In A Kaduna Hospital / Government Hospital Mistakenly Switches Babies Whose Parents Have Same Surname / How Can I Get Rid Of The Worm In My Throat

(Go Up)

Sections: politics (1) business autos (1) jobs (1) career education (1) romance computers phones travel sports fashion health
religion celebs tv-movies music-radio literature webmasters programming techmarket

Links: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)

Nairaland - Copyright © 2005 - 2024 Oluwaseun Osewa. All rights reserved. See How To Advertise. 55
Disclaimer: Every Nairaland member is solely responsible for anything that he/she posts or uploads on Nairaland.