Myths, Symptoms And Signs Of Cancer
Some myths, symptoms & signs that shouldn’t be ignored
Having any of these does not mean that you have cancer. Many other things cause these signs and symptoms, too. If you have any of these symptoms and they last for a long time or get worse, please see a doctor to find out what's going on.
Sudden weight loss: Most people with cancer will lose weight at some point. When you lose weight for no known reason, it's called an unexplained weight loss. An unexplained weight loss of 4-5 kg or more may be the first sign of cancer. This happens most often with cancers of the pancreas, stomach, esophagus (swallowing tube), or lung.
Fever: People with cancer will have fever at some time, especially if the cancer or its treatment affects the immune system. This can make it harder for the body to fight infection. Less often, fever may be an early sign of cancer, such as blood cancers like leukemia or lymphoma.
Extreme tiredness: Extreme tiredness that doesn't get better even with rest. It may be an important symptom as cancer grows. But it may happen early in some cancers, like leukemia. Some colon or stomach cancers can cause blood loss that's not obvious. This is another way cancer can cause fatigue.
Pain may be an early symptom with some cancers like bone cancer or testicular cancer. A headache that does not go away or get better with treatment may be a symptom of a brain tumour. Back pain can be a symptom of cancer of the colon, rectum or ovary. Most often, pain due to cancer means it has already spread from where it started.
There may be other causes for each of these, but it's important to see a doctor about them as soon as possible, especially if there's no other cause you can identify, the problem lasts a long time, or it gets worse over time. Some other common symptoms are change in bowel habits, sores that do not heal, white spots on the tongue, lump in breast or other parts of the body, Indigestion or trouble in swallowing.
Myths busted
Myth: All breast cancers can be detected on a mammogram.
Fact: No screening test is perfect, and mammography is no exception. Factors like age or breast density can influence the look of breast tissue on a mammogram, making cancers more or less difficult to recognise. In general, screening mammograms are less effective in younger women because they tend to have denser breasts. About 25 % of cancers in women ages 40 to 49 aren’t picked up by mammogram, compared with about 10% in women older than 50.
Myth: Your chance of getting breast cancer decreases with age.
Fact: Women above 50 years of age are at more risk of getting breast cancer. Over 80% of new breast cancers diagnosed each year are in women age 50 or older.
Myth: Mammograms are unsafe and ineffective.
Fact: Screening mammograms are the international gold standard for detecting breast cancer early. Mammograms can usually find lumps 2 or 3 years before a woman or her health care provider can feel them.
Myth: Radiation exposure during a mammogram can cause cancer.
Fact: Mammograms require small doses of radiation. The risk of harm from this amount of radiation exposure is extremely low, and the benefits outweigh the risk involved. Furthermore, there has never been a case of breast cancer caused from radiation exposure during a mammogram. So, there are no chances of getting cancer because of mammogram.
Myth: Pregnant woman can't get breast cancer.
Fact: This is not true. Breast cancer is actually the most common cancer in pregnant women. When women are pregnant or breastfeeding, their breasts are naturally more tender and enlarged, which may make it harder to find a lump or notice any other changes.
Palliative care
Palliative care in cancer patients involves not only treating symptoms of disease and side effects of the treatment at the earliest but also to provide physical, social and spiritual care to patient. It is usually given by a specialised medical team which comprises of the oncology physician, oncology nurse, allied physicians and other support staff along with the caregiver of the patients.
What to do
5 common cancers in women and men
According to the latest data published in 2018, the total number of new cancer cases in India is 1157294. A total of 22,58,308 people are suffering from cancer and are alive. The number of cancer deaths in India is 7,84,821.
The most common cancers among males in India is Lip & oral cavity, lung, stomach, colorectal and esophagus.
The most common cancers among women in India are Breast, Cervix, ovary, Lip & oral cavity, colorectal cancers.
common in children
LEUKEMIA: It is the most common type of cancer in children. It can be either ALL (Acute lymphocytic leukemia) or AML (Acute myeloid leukemia). Symptoms associated with leukemias are fatigue, weakness, bone and joint pain, pale skin, bleeding or bruising, fever and weight loss.
LYMPHOMAS: It is a cancer of the immune system cells, lymphocytes. It is mainly of two types: Hodgkins Lymphoma and Non Hodgkins Lymphoma.
The common symptoms are enlargement of lymph nodes, most commonly in the neck, armpit and groin, low grade fever, loss of appetite and weight, fatigue, night sweats.
CNS & SPINAL CORD TUMOURS: Brain tumours are more common than spinal tumours. Most of the brain tumours occur in the central part of the brain called the brain-stem and posterior part called cerebellum. These are associated with frequent headaches, vomiting, nausea, visual symptoms like diplopia or blurring, gait disturbances, difficulty in balancing and coordination.
Retinoblastoma: This is a tumor of the eye. It is usually seen in early childhood between the age of 2 to 6 years and is characterised by an unusual appearance of the eye. The pupil of the eye appears to be white or pink and not black.
THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES. PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO VIEW MY BLOG- https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/
FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG- https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/
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Having any of these does not mean that you have cancer. Many other things cause these signs and symptoms, too. If you have any of these symptoms and they last for a long time or get worse, please see a doctor to find out what's going on.
Sudden weight loss: Most people with cancer will lose weight at some point. When you lose weight for no known reason, it's called an unexplained weight loss. An unexplained weight loss of 4-5 kg or more may be the first sign of cancer. This happens most often with cancers of the pancreas, stomach, esophagus (swallowing tube), or lung.
Fever: People with cancer will have fever at some time, especially if the cancer or its treatment affects the immune system. This can make it harder for the body to fight infection. Less often, fever may be an early sign of cancer, such as blood cancers like leukemia or lymphoma.
Extreme tiredness: Extreme tiredness that doesn't get better even with rest. It may be an important symptom as cancer grows. But it may happen early in some cancers, like leukemia. Some colon or stomach cancers can cause blood loss that's not obvious. This is another way cancer can cause fatigue.
Pain may be an early symptom with some cancers like bone cancer or testicular cancer. A headache that does not go away or get better with treatment may be a symptom of a brain tumour. Back pain can be a symptom of cancer of the colon, rectum or ovary. Most often, pain due to cancer means it has already spread from where it started.
There may be other causes for each of these, but it's important to see a doctor about them as soon as possible, especially if there's no other cause you can identify, the problem lasts a long time, or it gets worse over time. Some other common symptoms are change in bowel habits, sores that do not heal, white spots on the tongue, lump in breast or other parts of the body, Indigestion or trouble in swallowing.
Myths busted
Myth: All breast cancers can be detected on a mammogram.
Fact: No screening test is perfect, and mammography is no exception. Factors like age or breast density can influence the look of breast tissue on a mammogram, making cancers more or less difficult to recognise. In general, screening mammograms are less effective in younger women because they tend to have denser breasts. About 25 % of cancers in women ages 40 to 49 aren’t picked up by mammogram, compared with about 10% in women older than 50.
Myth: Your chance of getting breast cancer decreases with age.
Fact: Women above 50 years of age are at more risk of getting breast cancer. Over 80% of new breast cancers diagnosed each year are in women age 50 or older.
Myth: Mammograms are unsafe and ineffective.
Fact: Screening mammograms are the international gold standard for detecting breast cancer early. Mammograms can usually find lumps 2 or 3 years before a woman or her health care provider can feel them.
Myth: Radiation exposure during a mammogram can cause cancer.
Fact: Mammograms require small doses of radiation. The risk of harm from this amount of radiation exposure is extremely low, and the benefits outweigh the risk involved. Furthermore, there has never been a case of breast cancer caused from radiation exposure during a mammogram. So, there are no chances of getting cancer because of mammogram.
Myth: Pregnant woman can't get breast cancer.
Fact: This is not true. Breast cancer is actually the most common cancer in pregnant women. When women are pregnant or breastfeeding, their breasts are naturally more tender and enlarged, which may make it harder to find a lump or notice any other changes.
Palliative care
Palliative care in cancer patients involves not only treating symptoms of disease and side effects of the treatment at the earliest but also to provide physical, social and spiritual care to patient. It is usually given by a specialised medical team which comprises of the oncology physician, oncology nurse, allied physicians and other support staff along with the caregiver of the patients.
What to do
- Understanding the diagnosis & the stage of the disease by the patient and his attendants.
- To know about the possible treatment options.
- Awareness of the side effects of the treatment.
- Understanding of the expected changes in lifestyle associated with the disease and treatment.
- Arrangement of finances required for the treatment and palliative care.
- Keeping the medical and life insurance policies of the cancer patient alive.
- Adoption of the process of rehabilitation and recovery after treatment.
- To understand the stress of the caregiver and provide resolution to his issues.
- Provision of a support system for the patient and his family to cope for the loss of a loved one.
- Integration of palliative care as integral part of treatment of cancer patients.
5 common cancers in women and men
According to the latest data published in 2018, the total number of new cancer cases in India is 1157294. A total of 22,58,308 people are suffering from cancer and are alive. The number of cancer deaths in India is 7,84,821.
The most common cancers among males in India is Lip & oral cavity, lung, stomach, colorectal and esophagus.
The most common cancers among women in India are Breast, Cervix, ovary, Lip & oral cavity, colorectal cancers.
common in children
LEUKEMIA: It is the most common type of cancer in children. It can be either ALL (Acute lymphocytic leukemia) or AML (Acute myeloid leukemia). Symptoms associated with leukemias are fatigue, weakness, bone and joint pain, pale skin, bleeding or bruising, fever and weight loss.
LYMPHOMAS: It is a cancer of the immune system cells, lymphocytes. It is mainly of two types: Hodgkins Lymphoma and Non Hodgkins Lymphoma.
The common symptoms are enlargement of lymph nodes, most commonly in the neck, armpit and groin, low grade fever, loss of appetite and weight, fatigue, night sweats.
CNS & SPINAL CORD TUMOURS: Brain tumours are more common than spinal tumours. Most of the brain tumours occur in the central part of the brain called the brain-stem and posterior part called cerebellum. These are associated with frequent headaches, vomiting, nausea, visual symptoms like diplopia or blurring, gait disturbances, difficulty in balancing and coordination.
Retinoblastoma: This is a tumor of the eye. It is usually seen in early childhood between the age of 2 to 6 years and is characterised by an unusual appearance of the eye. The pupil of the eye appears to be white or pink and not black.
THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES. PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO VIEW MY BLOG- https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/
FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG- https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/
FOR CROCHET DESIGNS https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com
Labels: back pain, bowel changes, Breast, Colon, extreme, Fatigue, fever, headache, Leukemia, lump, pain, rectum or ovarian cancers, retinoblastoma, sores, sudden weight loss, testicular, trouble swallowing, white spots
posted by G S Iyer at 2:00 AM
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