Cancer symptoms women should be aware of
Cancer symptoms women should be aware of
From giving birth to having menstruation to culminating it with menopause, a female human body undergoes innumerable changes. With this, feeling different is not something that worries females or stops them from doing daily activities. While adapting themselves to the frequent changes in the body, women often ignore signals that trigger severe complications like cancer.
As per reports in 2020, 8.8 million women were diagnosed with cancer.
While the number of women infected with cancer is startling, knowing the early symptoms can evade the seriousness of this disease to a large extent.
It is very important to know the trigger signs of cancer and after knowing it one should get medical assistance as soon as possible.
Some of the very common cancers women get are in breast, colorectal, lung, cervical, endometrial and skin. There is also evidence of cancer occurring in other body parts.
Here are few common signs of cancer every women should be aware of:
Anything that stays on the skin should never be ignored
Whether it's a small pimple or a purple lesion or a crusty, scaly, bleeding patch of skin, if it doesn't go away within a few days, one must visit a doctor and get it diagnosed. Very often we ignore small bumps on our skins, and assume they would flatten down with time. Confident with this assumption, we do not keep an eye on it and that mindlessness gives sufficient time to cancer to pan out.
If you find a hard bump on your eyelids or a waxy patch of skin that doesn't self heal within a few days, it is advisable to consult a doctor at the earliest. Many times the problem lies underneath. By the time one reaches the doctor after a considerable delay, the cancer has already progressed to a large extent.
If back pain doesn't go away with massage
Back pain is something women have learned to survive with. Starting from menstruation till menopause women experience pain in back every month. While pain due to cramps in menstruation is understood, long-lasting pains near the pelvis and back should not be ignored as these are the signs of cancer. Pain in the upper belly area is a sign of pancreatic cancer whereas a tumor in the spine can cause terrible pain in the lower back.
Irregularity in bowel movement
This is another sign which is often confused with constipation or irritable bowel syndrome. Irregular bowel movement is an early sign of colorectal cancer. Another reason why this sign can get overlooked is because many women feel constipated, bloated and changes in bowels during pre-menstrual time. So if this persists for a longer duration with signs like changes in the color of faecal matter, lethargy, drop in weight one should consult a doctor.
Problem during urination
Women tend to get more urinary tract infections and this is a reason why a frequent change in the pattern of urination is seen more in females. While one should always take preventive measures to keep the urinary tract clean and dry, one should also consult a doctor if the infection recurs within short intervals. Apart from infection, one should also check for blood in urine, which is a sign of kidney cancer.
Changes in breast
Breast cancer is another type of cancer that commonly occurs in females. As per experts, lump in armpit or collarbone, discharges from nipple, inward nipples, orange-looking skin, pain in the breast or nipple, itchy skin around nipple and breast are considered to be the major symptoms of cancer. Regular self-examination is very essential as they would help to spot these symptoms early. You can also opt for a mammogram which would tell you the changes in your breast tissue.
Bleeding or discharge between periods
If you find blood or smelly discharges from body between menstrual cycles, it is always advisable to seek medical assistance. Pre-menstrual discharge, though is common among females, should be dealt cautiously. Check with your gynecologist if it's in the normal level. Smelly discharges from bodies are often signs of cervical, vaginal or endometrial cancer.
Persistent Cough
Now, this comes with many faces. Persistent cough is associated with a number of diseases and its association with cancer is least known of. Therefore instead of diagnosing it on your own, visit a doctor, give all your medical history and get a complete body check up. A long lasting cough is a sign of lung cancer.
Trouble in swallowing
The most common symptom of cancer in the mouth, throat or oesophagus is difficulty in swallowing or feeling a big lump in the throat. Many people often consider it to be acid reflux. However, if this condition persists and doesn’t go away with acid-reflux related treatments you should get the food canal, throat and mouth checked properly.
Frequent pain in ear
Does your ear pain without any infection? Yes. There's a possibility it may be happening due to cancer in the tongue or tonsil or even in the mouth. So if using ear drops, is not helping you, do visit a doctor and get your body checked for cancer cells.