Most women know that regular pap smears and mammograms are important, but what many do not know is that recognizing cancer symptoms and warning signs could be just as key in early detection. And catching it early could quite literally save your life.
Sure, sometimes, a headache is just a headache, and a birthmark is just a birthmark, but knowing your body and recognizing changes can be crucial in identifying certain cancers. Before you become completely paranoid,
Breast Changes
Thanks to the media, these days, we are generally wise to the fact that a lump in the breast is something to get checked out, but swelling, redness, nipple changes or other breast abnormalities could all be early warning signs
Irregular Bleeding
Blood in your urine or stool, or even bleeding from a cut or scrape that doesn’t clot, could be a sign of something wrong. If you’re bleeding excessively or from somewhere that doesn’t seem right, then it is best to see a doctor.
Bloating
Most women write off bloat as a symptom of menstruation, overeating, or just “having a fat day.” But frequent bloating could indicate ovarian cancer, which is sometimes referred to as a “silent killer” because of its vague cancer symptoms.
Sores That Do Not Heal
Skin cancers may bleed and look like sores that don’t heal. A long-lasting sore in the mouth could be an oral cancer. This should be dealt with right away, especially in people who smoke, chew tobacco, or often drink alcohol.
Dark Vertical Stripes Along The Nail
Fingernails can reveal some of the most dreaded diseases, some of which can be fatal if they are not diagnosed in the beginning stages. Dark vertical stripes along the nail is one of the most obvious and dangerous warning signals your fingernails can send, and the medical term for this condition is actually “linear melanochia”. Unfortunately, many people choose to overlook these dark stripes that emerge along their nails. Why… because it does not cause them any pain. But this can actually indicate a form of skin cancer that affects only the nail bed, known as “Subungal Melanoma”.
Fatigue
Fatigue is hard to pinpoint. It could be a sign of many illnesses, or simply a case of being overtired. However, if you are constantly tired, even when you are getting plenty of rest, then you should see a medical professional.
Skin Changes
We’ve all heard that we ought to regularly check our moles and watch for changes in shape, size or texture, but there are other skin changes to look out for. Scaling, peeling or bleeding skin, or mouth sores, for example, can be cancer symptoms.
مدونة الدكتور / عهدي غنيمة 