TOP 15 CANCER SYMPTOMS WOMEN IGNORE; No. 1: Unexplained Weight Loss: Many women would be delighted to lose weight without trying. But unexplained weight loss -- say 10 pounds in a month without an increase in exercise or a decrease in food intake -- should be checked out, ( e.g. overactive thyroid). No. 2: Bloating: Bloating is so common that many women just live with it. But it could point to ovarian cancer. Other symptoms of ovarian cancer include abdominal pain or pelvic pain, feeling full quickly -- even when you havent eaten much -- and urinary problems, such as having an urgent need to go to the bathroom. No. 3: Breast Changes: Redness and thickening of the skin on the breast, which could indicate a very rare but aggressive form of breast cancer, inflammatory breast cancer. Likewise, if the look of a nipple changes, or if you notice discharge (and aren’t breastfeeding),see your doctor No. 4: Between-Period Bleeding orOther Unusual Bleeding: Premenopausal women tend to ignore between-period bleeding. They also tend to ignore bleeding from the GI tract, mistakenly thinking it is from their period. But between-period bleeding, especially if you are typically regular, bears checking out, she says. So does bleeding after menopause, as it could be a symptom of endometrial cancer. GI bleeding could be a symptom of colorectal cancer. No. 5: Skin Changes: Most of us know to look for any changes in moles -- a well-known sign of skin cancer. But we should also watch for changes in skin pigmentation. No. 6: Difficulty Swallowing: If you have difficulty swallowing, you may have already changed your diet so chewing isnt so difficult, perhaps turning to soups or liquid foods. But that difficulty could be asign of a GI cancer, such as in the esophagus, says Leonard Lichtenfeld, MD, deputy chief medical officer at the American Cancer Society. No. 7: Blood in the Wrong Place: Ifyou notice blood in your urine or your stool, don’t assume its from a hemorrhoid, It could be colon cancer.Seeing blood in the toilet bowl may actually be from the vagina if a woman is menstruating.But if not, it should be checked to rule out bladder or kidney cancer, she says.Coughing up blood should be evaluated, too. One occasion of blood in the wrong place may not point to anything, but if it happens more than once, go see your doctor. No. 8: Gnawing Abdominal Pain and Depression: Any woman whosgot a pain in the abdomen and is feeling depressed needs a checkup. Some researchers have found a link between depression and pancreatic cancer, but its a poorly understood connection. No. 9: Indigestion: Women who have been pregnant may remember the indigestion that occurred as they gained weight. But indigestion for no apparent reason may be a red flag. It could be an early clue to cancer of the esophagus, stomach, or throat. No. 10: Mouth Changes: Smokers should be especially alert for any white patches inside the mouth or white spots on the tongue, according to the American Cancer Society. Both can point to a precancerous condition called leukoplakia that can progress to oral cancer. No. 11: Pain: As people age they seem to complain more of various aches and pains, but pain, as vague as it may be, can also be an early symptom of some cancers, although most pain complaints are not from cancer.Pain that persists and is unexplained needs to be checked out. Expect your physician to take a careful history, and based on that information decide what further testing, if any, is needed. No. 12: Changes in the Lymph Nodes: If you notice a lump or swelling in the lymph nodes under your armpit or in your neck -- or anywhere else -- it could be worrisome. Lymph node that gets progressively larger, and its [been] longer than a month is suspicious. No. 13: Fever: If you have a fever that isnt explained by influenza orother infection, it could point to cancer. Fevers more often occur after cancer has spread from its original site, but it can also point to early blood cancers such as leukemia or lymphoma, according to the American Cancer Society (Other cancer symptoms can include jaundice, or a change in the color of your stool). No. 14: Fatigue: Fatigue is another vague symptom that could point to cancer -- as well as a host of other problems. It can set in after the cancer has grown, but it may also occur early in certain cancers, such as leukemia or with some colon or stomach cancers, according to the American Cancer Society. No. 15: Persistent Cough: Coughs are expected with colds, the flu, allergies, and sometimes are a side effect of medications. But a very prolonged cough -- defined as lasting more than three or four weeks -- should not be ignored (you might want to consider quitting smoking at this point).If you experience any of these symptoms, please see your doctor and insist on thorough examinations. When your doctor insists on extreme tests like CT scan, MRI, Xrays and others tests that seem expensive, please indulge if you can. And believe me when I say most HMO family schemes are cost intensive and cover most of these tests. Review a few as a family, with your spouse or as an individual. Most people patronize health care service when they know they won’t be paying out of pocket. Most times it is safer to find nothing while doing health investigations than to ignore and later realize you have left it a little too late.Like, share and educate your friends. Be health smart... Mel
Posted on: Tue, 03 Dec 2013 14:13:08 +0000
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