There are some general signs and symptoms of cancer that you should be on the lookout for if you are at risk or simply as you age. However, if you experience any of these symptoms, it does not necessarily mean that you have cancer because there are many other conditions that cause these signs and symptoms as well. Make an appointment with your doctor immediately if you experience any of these symptoms and you believe you may have cancer.
If you experience an unexplained weight loss, this may be a sign of a disease. Most people that develop cancer will unintentionally lose weight because of the disease. If you have an unexplained weight loss of about 10 pounds, this may be a sign that you have cancer of the pancreas, lung, stomach or esophagus.
Developing a fever is a common sign effect of cancer but it is usually seen in advanced cases of the disease. Patients with cancer will almost always experience a fever at some time because the disease or the treatment can affect the immune system and inhibit its ability to resist infection. It is not usually associated with an early sign of cancer, but can be with Hodgkin’s disease.
Fatigue can be an important sign of cancer as it develops and progresses. It can also be a significant factor for early detection if the cancer is causing a recurring loss of blood, which is possible with colon and stomach cancers.
If you begin to experience unexplained pain, this may be an early sign of some cancers like bone and testicular cancers. However, pain is typically associated as a symptom of an advanced stage of the disease.
Skin changes are not just produced by skin cancer but also some internal cancers. There may be noticeable skin signs such as darkening, yellowing (jaundice), reddening, itching or even excessive hair growth.
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