Women are more mindful about their health than men, but sometimes they ignore some symptoms that can indicate serious illness. By ignoring certain symptoms you can increase your risk of missing the first signs of a serious disease like cancer. The first signs of cancer aren’t always obvious and can be detected only by an experienced doctor. However, you need to know the symptoms that may indicate cancer and call the doctor in time.
What Are the Signs of Cancer?
Keep reading to discover 8 surprising signs of cancer. This knowledge will help you ensure your health and the health of your loved ones.
1. Extreme weight loss
Some women may perceive severe weight loss as a blessing rather than a potential warning sign. But this can be a symptom of a serious problem inside your body. Several types of cancer can cause severe weight loss. If you experience extreme weight loss along with loss of appetite, you need to report these changes to your doctor immediately.
2. Patches in the mouth
White and red patches in your mouth that do not heal for a long time, can be a symptom of oral cancer. If sores in your mouth persist for beyond three weeks, you need to make an appointment with the best dental specialist. It will help you catch oral cancer at an early stage. See your dentist twice a year and ask if a routine cancer exam is part of the cleaning visit.
3. Chronic pelvic pain
It is important to resolve any pelvic issues as soon as possible. If you experience pain on a regular or repetitive basis, you need to schedule an appointment with your gynecologist. By undergoing an examination, you can ensure your health and well-being. It is important to detect this as one of the early signs of cancer so you can get treatment in time.
4. Nausea or vomiting
Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms that can appear for various reasons. It can one of the first signs of viral gastroenteritis or another temporary illness. Persistent nausea and vomiting that last for a long period can be symptoms of certain types of cancer.
5. Severe fatigue
Chronic fatigue that appears for no reason, can be a warning sign of cancer. You can find yourself hopeless and napping multiple times a day. You need to visit your primary care physician and ensure you have screening tests according to your complaints.
6. Skin changes
Only some women regularly check their skin on their back, top of their head, or behind their ears. These areas of the body are at risk of cancer but are often overlooked. It is also important to check the skin under your nails. Vertical dark stripes on the nails can be a symptom of subungual melanoma. You need to check your entire body annually for any abnormal changes in the skin.
7. Bloating
Bloating or pressure that appears from the pubic bone to below the ribcage and lasts during a long period, is a warning sign but most women ignore these signs of cancer. It can be a symptom of ovarian cancer. You need to schedule an appointment with your gynecologist and report this symptom as soon as possible.
8. Headache
All of us have headaches from time to time. You can experience them daily or monthly but for most people, these headaches have the same patterns. If you experience a new type of headache, it is recommended to consult your doctor. A brain tumor increases pressure on the brain and interferes with cerebrospinal fluid absorption. This can trigger dull and “pressure-type” headaches. You need to visit your physician if you start having a new type of headache.
While cancer tests are very effective, it is important to identify all the abnormal changes in your body. Detecting and knowing the early signs of cancer can help save lives. You are the one who can notice new alarming symptoms faster than your doctor. To be able to identify cancer at an early stage, you need to be aware of all the symptoms that cancer has.
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