Some cancer symptoms which women ignore

1) Unexplained Weight Loss

Though losing weight is good, unexplained weight loss -- say 10 pounds in a month without an increase in exercise or a decrease in food intake -- should be checked out. Unexplained weight loss is cancer unless proven not  or, turn out to be an overactive thyroid.

Expect your doctor to run tests to check the thyroid and perhaps order a CT scan of different organs. The doctor needs to rule out the possibilities, one by one.

2) 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 haven't eaten much -- and urinary problems, such as having an urgent need to go to the bathroom.

If  bloating  persists for more than a few weeks, you should consult your physician. Expect your doctor to take a careful history and order a CT scan and blood tests, among others.

3) Breast Changes

Most women know their breasts well, even if they don't do regular self-exams, and know to be on the lookout for lumps. But that's not the only breast symptom that could point to cancer. Redness and thickening of the skin on the breast, which could indicate a very rare but aggressive form of breast cancer, inflammatory breast cancer, also needs to be examined. If you have a rash that persists over weeks, you have to get it evaluated.

Likewise, if the look of a nipple changes, or if you notice discharge (and aren’tbreastfeeding), see your doctor. "If it's outgoing normally and turns in, that's not a good sign.  It's the change in appearance that could be a worrisome symptom.

If you have breast changes, expect your doctor to take a careful history, examine the breast, and order tests such as a mammogram, ultrasound, MRI, and perhaps a biopsy.

 4) Between-Period Bleeding or Other 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, needs checking out. So does bleeding after menopause, as it could be a symptom of endometrial cancer.

 5)GI bleeding could be a symptom of colorectal cancer.

 6) Skin Changes

Most of us know to look for any changes in moles -- a well-known sign of skin cancer, also watch for changes in skin pigmentation.

If you suddenly develop bleeding on your skin or excessive scaling, that should be checked. It's difficult to say how long is too long to observe skin changes before you go to the doctor, but most experts say not longer than several weeks.

7) Difficulty Swallowing

If you have difficulty swallowing,  that difficulty could be a sign of a GI cancer, such as in the esophagus.

Expect your doctor to take a careful history and order tests such as a chest X-ray or exams of the GI tract.

8) Blood in the Wrong Place

If you notice blood in your urine or your stool, don’t assume it's from a hemorrhoid,it could be colon cancer.

Expect your doctor to ask questions and perhaps order testing such as a colonoscopy, an exam of the colon to look for 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.

Coughing up blood should be evaluated. One occasion of blood in the wrong place may not point to anything,  but if it happens more than once, go see your doctor.

9) Gnawing Abdominal Pain and Depression

Any woman who's got a pain in the abdomen and is feeling depressed needs a checkup. Some researchers have found a link between depression and pancreatic cancer, but it's a poorly understood connection.

10) Indigestion

Indigestion for no apparent reason may be a red flag. It could be an early clue to cancer of the esophagus, stomach, or throat.

Expect your doctor to take a careful history and ask questions about the indigestion before deciding which tests to order, if any.

11)  Mouth Changes

Smokers should be especially alert for any white patches inside the mouth or white spots on the tongue.  Both can point to a precancerous condition called leukoplakia that can progress to oral cancer.

Ask your dentist or doctor to take a look and decide what should be done next.

12) 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.

13 )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. If the lymph node gets progressively larger, and been longer than a month, see a doctor. Your doctor will examine you and figure out any associated issues (such as infection) that could explain the lymph node enlargement. If there are none, your doctor will typically order a biopsy.