If
you're experiencing any of these, it's best to play it safe and get checked out
by your doctor.
Weight loss.
Bleeding. Bloating. Cough. When are symptoms like these a temporary bother, and
when are they early signs of something much worse — like cancer?
“The vast majority of
the time, these issues aren’t that serious,” says James Hamrick, M.D. M.P.H.,
senior medical director at Flatiron Health, “but it’s good to get them checked
out.”
You’re less likely to
get a shock if you are getting timely cancer tests — a colonoscopy at 50 and
every 10 years thereafter, yearly skin checks with a dermatologist, and an
annual mammogram if you’re are a woman. “Often cancer gets missed or is
advanced when patients don’t get recommended screenings,” says Sandy Kotiah,
M.D., a medical oncologist and director of the Neuroendocrine Tumor Center at
Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. Her advice: “Don’t ignore things that aren’t
going away.”
Here are symptoms
that merit a trip to the doctor.
1. Unintentional
weight loss
If you’re exercising
and eating less in order to drop a few pounds, you expect to see results. “But
if your clothes aren’t fitting anymore and you haven’t limited your food
consumption, that’s a red flag,” says Dr. Hamrick.
Cancers can cause you
to lose weight unintentionally, especially if it is a malignancy that has
spread from one organ to another. If you have lost more than five to 10% of
your body weight without trying, talk to your doctor.
2. Unexplained
bleeding
Many people see blood
on the toilet paper from time to time, usually the result of an irritated
hemorrhoid. But if there is a large amount of blood or stools are dark and
tarry (the sign of old blood), make an appointment to get it checked.
“Dark, tarry stool
can indicate bleeding from the stomach or esophagus,” signaling possible cancer
there, says Dr. Hamrick. “Continual bright red could indicate trouble lower
down in the GI tract in the colon or rectum.” Vaginal bleeding after menopause
also warrants a mention to your doctor.
3. Significant
bloating
A lot of people
experience bloating — or uncomfortable fullness — due to hormone shifts or
common GI issues like irritable bowel syndrome.
“But if women are
noting an increase in their abdominal girth along with a continual feeling of
bloating, we might suspect ovarian cancer,” Dr. Hamrick says. That’s
particularly true for women after menopause.
4. Breast lumps
Despite widespread
campaigns advocating breast self-exam, some lumps still go overlooked. “Many
women will notice a lump up in the upper underarm and think nothing of it,”
says Dr. Kotiah. Waste no time in reaching out to your doctor and scheduling a
mammogram. Good news: As women age, the breast tissue becomes more fatty and
less dense, making abnormal growths easier to spot on x-rays. So “you get more
bang for your mammogram buck,” says Dr. Hamrick.
5. Persistent cough
During cold and flu
season, it’s common to get a cough that lingers for up to six weeks. “The
airways are irritated and it takes time to heal up,” says Dr. Hamrick. But if
the rattle in your chest is still there after a month and half, it’s reasonable
to ask for a chest x-ray to rule out lung cancer.
6. Changing moles
You may have had that
mole for decades, but if it suddenly starts growing or bleeding in the absence
of a trauma, see a physician. “Variation in color, say, from brown to tan,
irregular borders or rapid growth are also cause for concern,” says Dr.
Hamrick. “You need to seek out a dermatologist.”
https://www.considerable.com/health/cancer/cancer-warning-signs-often-ignored/?utm_source=postup&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DNL-011320%20B
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