Cancer alert: If these 10 symptoms last more than a few weeks, it is advisable to get checked

Cancer can be sneaky, showing up with symptoms so subtle they’re easy to ignore

Finding cancer early makes it much more likely that treatment will work. There are early signs of cancer that are easy to spot if you know what to look for, even though cancer symptoms can be very different. If any of these last for more than a few weeks, don't wait, go see a doctor. Here, Dr. Tejinder Kataria, Chairperson of Radiation Oncology at Medanta – The Medicity, breaks down 10 early signs of cancer you shouldn't ignore. 

Unexplained weight loss

If you lose 10 pounds or more without trying, it could be a sign of cancers like stomach, esophagus, lung, or pancreas. Always check for other causes, but if you keep losing weight, you should see a doctor.

Persistent fatigue

 

Feeling very tired, even after getting some rest, can be a sign of many types of cancer, including blood cancers like leukemia or lymphoma. Get checked out if you are tired for no reason and it is affecting your daily life.

New or changing lumps

A new lump or swelling in the neck, armpit, or groin could be a sign of an infection or inflammation, but it could also be a sign of abnormal cell growth. It could be a sign of something more serious, like breast, testicular, or lymph-related cancers, if it feels hard, gets bigger over time, or doesn't go away. To figure out what's wrong, you need to keep an eye on its size, shape, and tenderness.

Changes in skin or moles

Keep an eye on your skin for new growths or moles that change shape, color, or size or start to bleed or itch. The ABCDE rule is very important for finding melanoma, asymmetry, border, color, diameter, and evolving.

Unusual bleeding or bruising

Seeing blood in your urine, stool, vomit, or cough can be scary and could mean you have bladder, colon, stomach, or lung cancer. Frequent nosebleeds or unexplained bruises could also be signs of blood cancers.

Persistent cough or hoarseness

If you have a cough that lasts longer than a few weeks, especially if it's dry or brings up blood, it could be more than just an infection. It could be a sign of lung, throat, or thyroid cancer. Tumors can cause ongoing irritation and coughing when they affect the airways or the tissues around them.

 

Difficulty swallowing or indigestion

If you have trouble swallowing or have heartburn or indigestion that won't go away, you may have cancer in your throat, esophagus, or stomach.

Changes in bathroom habits

Changes in bowel habits, like diarrhea that doesn't go away, constipation, or blood in the stool, or urinary problems, like pain or blood while urinating, can be early signs of cancer of the colon, bladder, or prostate. If these symptoms don't go away, they could mean that there is a problem with your digestive or urinary tract.

 

Persistent pain

Sometimes, cancers in the bones, ovaries, pancreas, or other internal organs can cause pain that doesn't go away in the belly, back, or joints. This pain doesn't go away like other aches do. Instead, it may get worse over time, which could mean that tumors are growing or putting pressure on the body.

  

Night sweats, fevers, or frequent infections

If you have low fevers, night sweats, or repeated infections that don't have any other explanation, it could be a sign of cancers like lymphoma or leukemia, which affect the immune system.

These signs don't mean you have cancer for sure, but they are important signs that something is wrong with your body. Detecting something early often gives you more treatment options, less aggressive therapy, and much better results.

Common forms of cancer

According to WHO report breast cancer is one of the most diagnosed cancer around the world, . Lung cancer is still the deadliest though, especially in places with a lot of smoking or pollution. Colon cancer’s also been showing up more, even in younger people. Prostate cancer hits older men the most, and stomach cancer, though less talked about, is still a problem in some Asian countries. What the WHO really pushes is early checkups, better food, and quitting tobacco. Those simple things, they say, can really lower your risk a lot.

Consult a doctor

If you notice these signs, it is important to talk to a doctor right away.

 

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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Why we need vitamin D — and sun exposure isn't the only way to get it

Vitamin D is a real multi-tasker. It “helps your body absorb calcium, which is essential for strong bones and teeth and helps prevent rickets in children and osteoporosis in adults,” a registered dietitian tells. “Vitamin D also plays a role in supporting a healthy immune system and glucose metabolism and reducing inflammation.”

But 35% of Americans aren’t getting enough of it.

There are several reasons why — the main factors being lack of sun exposure (the body produces vitamin D when exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet light), location, age and skin color, explains a registered dietitian. “The darker the skin tone, the harder it is to synthesize vitamin D from the sun,” she explains. According to the National Library of Medicine, the most at-risk populations for vitamin D deficiency are the elderly, obese people, nursing home residents and hospitalized patients.

But before you run out to pick up a bottle of supplements or start walking around without any sunscreen, here’s what experts want you to know about vitamin D.

Bone health isn’t its only superpower

Strong bones and osteoporosis prevention might be vitamin D’s claims to fame, but they’re not its only specialty. According to the National Institutes of Health, the nutrient helps your immune system fight off viruses and bacteria, which is especially timely for cold and flu season. Vitamin D also assists in regulating blood sugar and helps your brain manage mood. For example, some studies have found links between low blood levels of vitamin D and an increased risk of depression.

The sun isn’t the only way to get more vitamin D

Before stocking up on capsules from the vitamin aisle, evaluate your diet for vitamin D gaps. That’s right: The sun isn’t the only way to get this important nutrient. “Fatty fish like salmon, tuna and sardines are packed with vitamin D and egg yolks, beef liver and cheese contain smaller amounts,” says Rush. Many foods are also fortified or enriched with vitamin D, he adds, including milk, plant-based milk alternatives, cereal, orange juice and yogurt. “Checking the nutrition facts label is the easiest way to see if a food contains vitamin D,” he says.

More isn’t better when it comes to vitamin D

There is such a thing as vitamin D toxicity that can pose serious health risks. “Overdoing it on vitamin D, usually from high-dose supplements, can lead to elevated calcium levels in the blood known as hypercalcemia,” explains Rush. “This can trigger a range of symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, confusion and even kidney stones. In severe cases, vitamin D toxicity can cause kidney failure, heart problems and in rare instances, death.”

The recommended daily allowance of vitamin D is 600 international units (IU) for people ages 1 to 70 and 800 IU for adults over 70. “However, your doctor may recommend a higher dose if you have a deficiency,” Rush says.

The supplement shouldn’t be taken alone

“Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, meaning it's absorbed best when consumed with fat,” says Rush. “Having a snack with some healthy fats, like avocado, nuts or seeds, can help your body absorb the vitamin D supplement more effectively.”

It’s also a good idea to make sure you’re getting enough vitamin K — another nutrient found in leafy greens — or if your doctor recommends it, taking a supplement with both vitamins (such as D3 and K2). That’s because vitamin K and D work together, with vitamin K helping to distribute the calcium produced by vitamin D.

It’s not an excuse to get more sun exposure

Low vitamin D doesn’t give you a free pass to a day of sun tanning. “Some research suggests that five to 30 minutes of midday sun exposure several times per week could be enough for most people to produce sufficient vitamin D,” says Rush. The proper amount of time varies depending on your skin tone, the amount of skin exposed to the sun, the time of day, the season and where you live, he adds.

Whether you spend five or 30 minutes getting your vitamin D fix, it shouldn’t be without sunscreen. According to The Skin Cancer Foundation, “Clinical studies have never found that everyday sunscreen use leads to vitamin D insufficiency. In fact, the prevailing studies show that people who use sunscreen daily can maintain their vitamin D levels.” That’s because no sunscreen offers 100% protection from the sun’s UV rays so even with sunscreen, some of those rays will still reach your skin. “It’s important to protect your skin from sun damage to reduce the risk of skin cancer,” Rush says.

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement
https://cancersupportindia.blogspot.com  for infor on cancer and health related topics
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