Nine Major Warning Signals Of Cancer
Author: Krishan
1. Persistent cough, blood in sputum
For persistent cough, blood in sputum of recent origin in a
middle-aged person, suspect cancer of the lungs (bronchogenic
carcinoma). Another equally important cause is lung tubercu
losis which should be suspected irrespective of age.
2. Unusual hoarseness
Unusually hoarse voice that does not completely respond to
usual medical treatment may be a signal of some growth in the
larynx which may be either benign (papilloma) or malig nant.
However, tuberculosis of the larynx is another important cause
of hoarseness and it is usually secondary to pulmonary
tuberculosis which may remain unrecognized, i.e., the symptoms
of laryngeal tuberculosis may precede the symptoms of lung
tuberculosis. Under any circumstances, immediate services of an
ENT specialist must be availed of for laryngos copy / precise
diagnosis since laryngeal tuberculosis and carcinoma may
simulate each other, both in signs and symptoms, and a delay in
diagnosis may prove distressing.
3. Persistent indigestion
For persistent indigestion (dyspepsia) of a vague type (i.e.
when the pain in abdomen has no relation to meals as in peptic
ulcer discussed at serial 5), loss of appetite, loss of weight
in a middle-aged person, suspect carcinoma of the stomach. It is
generally between 3-6 months after the onset of symptoms that
the patient seeks medical advice.
4. Difficulty in swallowing
For progressive difficulty in swallowing (dysphagia) in a
middle-aged person, suspect carcinoma of the oesophagus
(food-pipe). Or, there could be cancer of the pharynx. Some
usual notable causes of dysphagia are anaemia, foreign body,
inflammatory stricture, hysteria, especially in women.
5. Gastric/duodenal peptic ulcer
For pain in the upper part of the abdomen, half an hour to an
hour after meals, suspect gastric peptic ulcer. If there is pain
in the same region, 3-4 hours after meals, and it is relieved
only when the patient eats something (said to be hunger pain),
suspect duodenal peptic ulcer. In both, cancerous changes may
occur if the disease is neglected. Cancer should be seriously
considered if symptoms occur in a middle-aged person with
associated loss of weight.
6. Inflamed gallbladder I gallstones
People who get an attack of acute cholecystitis (inflamed
gallbladder) in which there is an acute pain in the right upper
part of the abdomen should not delay surgical intervention for
removing the gallbladder after the medicinal treatment is over,
as such a gallbladder is always prone to malignant change. The
prevention of the cancer of the gallbladder lies in the removal
of the inflamed gallbladder after the acute episode is over.
In the same way, the gallbladder of patients who are suffering
from chronic cholecystitis, i.e., long-standing inflammation of
the gallbladder, should also be removed without delay.
Similarly, in gallstones, the gallbladder should be removed as
there is always associated chronic inflammation of the
gallbladder.
7. Change in bowel habits
For recent/sudden change in bowel habits, i.e., alternating
constipation and diarrhoea with the formation of a ball of wind
or of a lump in the abdomen, passing of blood through the rectum
or blood in stool, loss of appetite and weight, in a middle-aged
person, suspect cancer of the colon or of the rectum. Sometimes,
bleeding piles may alone be a signal of a malignant growth in a
middle-aged person.
8. Lump / thickening in the breast or anywhere
A lump / thickening in the breast and/or bleeding or discharge
from the nipple of a middle-aged female should immediately be
got diagnosed and treated as it is always prone to malignant
change (breast cancer). In general, the appearance of a painless
swelling anywhere in the body, suspect malignancy
9. Blood in urine
One should be cautious whenever there is blood in urine
(haematuria). Medical people know that it could be a symptom of
carcinoma of the kidney, the urinary bladder, the prostate,
papilloma (benign) of the urinary bladder or of the pelvis of
the kidney, or tuberculosis of the kidney. A middle-aged person
has to be cautious on all these accounts. In a child the
carcinoma of the kidney usually presents itself as a lump in the
abdomen, and blood in the urine is a late feature. Tuberculosis
of the kidney may be curable with medicinal treatment in early
cases. Later, surgery may be required.
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