15 Cancer Symptoms Women Shouldn’t Ignore

Early detection is key to successful treatment, so it’s important not to ignore any warning signs that your body may be trying to tell you. In this article, we will discuss some common cancer symptoms that women should never overlook.

1. Skin changes on the chest

Most often, lumps in the mammary glands are not cancer. Still, go for a check-up if you notice these or other symptoms:

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• retraction of skin or folds,
• inverted nipples,
• nipple discharge,
• redness or scaly skin on the nipples and breasts.

To determine the cause of these symptoms, the doctor will order a further examination (mammography or ultrasound). A biopsy (removing a small piece of tissue for examination) may be required.

2. Bloating

If it does not go away for a long time, is accompanied by weight loss or bleeding, be sure to consult a doctor. Persistent bloating may be a sign of breast , colon, gastrointestinal, ovarian, pancreatic, or uterine cancer.

Depending on other symptoms, a gynecological examination, blood test, mammogram, colonoscopy, computed tomography or ultrasound are prescribed.

3. Bleeding outside of your period

Bleeding that does not fit into your typical cycle can have completely different causes. However, screening for endometrial cancer is necessary. This is the mucous membrane that lines the uterine cavity.

If bleeding occurs after menopause, see a doctor immediately.

4. Moles

If a mole has changed size, shape, color, or you have new moles , contact your doctor immediately. Don’t delay. This is a common sign of cancer. You need to undergo a thorough examination.

5. Blood in urine and stool

If you observe this symptom for more than a couple of days, contact your doctor. Most often, bloody stool is a sign of hemorrhoids. But it is also caused by colon cancer. And blood in the urine is usually the first sign of bladder and kidney cancer. But don’t rush to panic, it could just be inflammation of the bladder – cystitis .

6. Changes in lymph nodes

Lymph nodes are small, round or bean-shaped structures. Lymph flows through them, coming from different organs. They usually increase during infectious diseases. But they also become swollen and tender in some types of cancer, such as leukemia and lymphoma. See your doctor if swelling or swelling does not go away for more than a month.

7. Difficulty swallowing

It’s okay if this happens sometimes. But if this happens frequently and is accompanied by vomiting or weight loss, you should be screened for cancer of the throat, esophagus and stomach.

In this case, endoscopy (“swallowing a light bulb”), computed tomography of the neck, chest and abdomen are prescribed. An X-ray examination using a barium suspension may be prescribed: the patient drinks a special liquid, and the pharynx, esophagus and stomach are highlighted on the X-ray.

8. Weight loss

Most women dream of the extra pounds disappearing on their own. But if you haven’t changed your diet and training regimen, weight loss indicates problems in the body. Especially if you have lost more than five kilograms.

Most often it is not related to cancer. Causes may include stress or thyroid disease. But cancer cannot be ruled out: pancreas, colon, stomach or lungs.

9. Heartburn

It is most often caused by overeating, excessive alcohol consumption or stress. Or all three reasons together. Change your diet and wait one to two weeks. If heartburn does not go away, consult a doctor.

Frequent, prolonged heartburn can be a symptom of cancer of the stomach and esophagus (although it is much more often caused by other diseases). Even if your heartburn isn’t caused by cancer, the backlog of stomach acid can damage the lining of your esophagus and lead to a condition called Barrett’s esophagus. With it, normal cells of the esophagus are replaced by precancerous ones.

10. Mouth stains

See if yellow, gray, white or bright red spots appear in your mouth and lips. Especially if you smoke. All this can signal oral cancer. Contact your doctor or dentist to get tested.

11. High temperature

A temperature that does not go away for a long time and is not explained by other diseases can signal leukemia or other hematological malignancies. Don’t put off going to the doctor. He should ask you about previous illnesses and prescribe the necessary examination.

12. Fatigue

Of course, it is often explained by stress at work or constant rush. But if it doesn’t go away for a long time, it’s no longer normal.

Consult a doctor, first an endocrinologist, if fatigue does not go away even after rest or is accompanied by other symptoms, such as bloody stools. The doctor will order blood tests and other tests.

13. Cough

The cough usually goes away on its own after three to four weeks. If it lasts longer, do not delay going to the doctor. Especially if you smoke or suffer from shortness of breath. If you cough up blood, go to the hospital immediately.

14. Pain

The cause of pain in the body can be various diseases, including cancer of the bones, brain or other organs. Once the tumor has spread, the pain may be constant. If strange pain lasts more than a month, be sure to go to the doctor.

15. Depression

There are studies showing a link between depression and certain types of cancer, such as pancreatic cancer. Moreover, in some cases, symptoms of depression appear before a diagnosis is made or even before other signs appear. This happens quite rarely, so don’t panic right away. Suspicion of a malignant tumor is justified only if pancreatic cancer is a hereditary disease in your family. Then you need to get tested as soon as possible.