Many people, when they hear the word cancer, associate it with a dangerous disease and bad consequences.
But since the 70s, the survival rate has increased for three reasons, mainly due to early diagnosis.
And, in fact, most cancers can be treated with good results for the patient when they are detected before they are too advanced.
The problem is that often, because we don't want to bother the doctor or don't give them enough importance, we ignore some symptoms that may be important for early diagnosis.
According to a study conducted by Cancer Research UK, more than half of the British people have at some point experienced one of the symptoms that may indicate the presence of cancer, but only 2% thought they could suffer from the disease with more than one. one third completely ignored the alarm and did not go to the doctor.
Katrina Whitaker, a researcher at the University of London and lead author of the study, said: "People think we shouldn't encourage people to be curious about their health conditions, but we have a problem with people who are embarrassed to go to the doctor because they believe they will waste time. and waste health system resources without benefits.
"We need to send a message that if you have symptoms that do not go away, especially those that seem to be warning signs, do not ignore them, go to the doctor to seek help," he said.
BBC Mundo describes 10 common symptoms of cancer that according to the American Cancer Society you should not ignore.
1. Weight loss for no reason
Most people with cancer lose weight at some point.
When you lose weight without any reason, it is called unexplained weight loss.
Unexplained weight loss of 5 kg or more can be the first sign of cancer.
This occurs more often in cancer of the pancreas, stomach, esophagus, or lung.
2. Fever
Fever is very common in patients with cancer, although it occurs more often after the cancer has spread from where it started.
Almost everyone with cancer will get a fever at some point, especially if the cancer or its treatment affects the immune system.
A fever can be an early sign of cancer, such as leukemia or lymphoma.
3. Fatigue
Fatigue is a lot that does not survive during rest.
It can be a sign of advanced cancer.
However, in other cancers, such as blood cancer, fatigue may occur at first.
Some cancers of the colon or stomach can cause blood loss that is not obvious.
This is another way that cancer can cause fatigue.
4. Skin changes
Along with skin cancer, other cancers can cause skin changes that can be seen.
These signs and symptoms include:
- Darkening of the skin (hyperpigmentation)
- Yellow skin and eyes (jaundice)
- Redness of the skin (erythema). Itching
- Excessive hair growth
5. Changes in bowel habits or bladder function
Chronic constipation, diarrhea, or a change in the shape of your stool can be a sign of colon cancer.
On the other hand, pain during urination, blood in the urine, or changes in bladder function (such as more or less frequent urination) may be associated with bladder or prostate cancer.
6. Non-healing wounds
Many people know that moles that grow, hurt or bleed can be signs of skin cancer, but we should also be careful about small wounds that do not heal for more than four weeks.
A mouth ulcer that does not heal may be due to oral cancer.
Any changes in your mouth that last for a long time should be checked immediately by a doctor or dentist.
Sores on the penis or vagina can be signs of an infection or early stage cancer, and should be checked by a health professional.
7. From bleeding
On the other hand, if blood appears in the stool (which can be very dark in color) it can be a sign of colon cancer or rectal cancer.
Cervical cancer of the endometrium (lining of the uterus) can cause abnormal vaginal bleeding.
Also, blood in the urine can be a sign of bladder or kidney cancer.
Bleeding from the nipple can be a sign of breast cancer.
8. Stiffness or heaviness anywhere in the body
Most cancers can be felt through the skin.
These cancers occur mainly in the breast, prostate, glands (lymph nodes), and soft tissues of the body.
weight or stiffness can be an early sign of cancer.
9. Difficulty swallowing
Persistent indigestion or difficulty swallowing may be a sign of cancer of the esophagus (tube leading to the stomach), stomach, or pharynx (throat).
However, like many of the symptoms on this list, they are often caused by causes other than cancer.
10. Persistent cough or scratchy sound
A persistent cough can be a sign of lung cancer.
It is recommended to visit a doctor if we have been sick for more than three weeks.
At the same time, a scratchy sound can be a sign of cancer of the larynx (the first part of the pharynx) or thyroid cancer.
Post A Comment:
0 comments: