Cancer can be a devastating disease that comes out of nowhere. Those diagnosed often notice few symptoms, and they feel fine when they’re blindsided with a diagnosis. Signs and symptoms of cancer can be very small and easy to miss. You are required to recognize these 10 signs of cancer maybe growing in your body. It can be vital to catch it early and saving your life.
1. A Lump Beneath the Skin
Lumps in breast tissue are often discovered by those who regularly perform self-exams. Regularly performing self-exams and knowing what to look for can help you recognize when something has changed. Self-exams can be performed on other parts of the body as well, and can allow you to discover lumps before they develop into larger tumors.
2. Itchy Skin
The body treats cancer as bacteria. The immune system fights it by using white blood cells to attempt to destroy it. This increases blood flow in the area of cancerous growth, causing the area to feel warm, appear red, change color, feel tight or itch.
3. Wounds That Don’t Heal
If you notice that a cut or another skin injury is taking a long time to heal, it could be a sign that cancer is growing in your body. Your immune system has to prioritize, and the cancer takes priority. A wound isn’t as important so it may take the body longer to heal that injury.
4. Bumps on the Mouth or Tongue
Bumps that appear inside the mouth, gums or throat, especially if they are white in color, should be checked out by a health care professional.
5. Trouble Swallowing or Loss of Appetite
If your digestive process is disrupted, you have trouble swallowing, or you suffer from indigestion or experience a loss of appetite, these issues should be checked out by a doctor, as they will affect the body’s ability to get nutrients from the food that you eat.
6. Changes in Bowel Movements
Anything that appears out of the ordinary regarding bowel movements and lasts more than two days could be cause for concern. Finding blood in your stools could be a sign of colon cancer, and it should be evaluated by a medical professional.
7. Changes in Urination
Bladder function should be fairly regular when you are healthy. Changes in the strength of urine flow, color, smell and presence of foam or blood should be checked out immediately.
8. Bleeding
Bleeding that is unexplained should always be checked. Blood from the uterus, nipple or in any bodily excretions can be a major sign of a problem.
9. Changes in Voice
Cancer of the larynx can cause the pitch and tone of your voice to change. If you notice your voice changing or someone else mentions it, make an appointment with a health care professional.
10. Constant Coughing
Cancer of the lungs, esophagus, throat and even stomach can cause constant coughing. If you’ve had a persistent cough that is painful, or you find yourself coughing up blood, check in with a doctor. Coughing that lasts longer than 1-2 weeks may be much more than a cold.
You don’t have to wait for warning signs to be on the lookout for cancer. It starts by eating right at a young age.