15 symptoms of cancer, which women most often ignore

Many signs of cancer are similar to the symptoms of other diseases or conditions, so they are often ignored. Pay attention to your body. If you notice unusual pain or other changes that do not go away and only get worse, then it's time to go to the doctor.

Uterine bleeding in menopause

Women quite often find spotting even after they have gone through menopause. But if suddenly the same bleeding begins as during menstruation, and it does not stop, it can be an early sign of cancer of the uterus. The good news is that in women diagnosed in the first stage, until the cancer has spread, the survival rate is 88%, according to the American Cancer Society.

Change in color or breast size

Unusual seals are indirect signs of breast cancer that women can detect themselves. But other changes in the breast can signal cancer. If you notice that the skin on your chest has become uneven, there is swelling or slight color changes (deep red or pink), then this should be cause for concern. These signs do not necessarily mean that you have cancer, and that's why many women postpone their visit to the doctor, hoping that everything will pass by itself.

Bloating

Almost every woman complains of bloating, especially in the premenstrual period. But if you notice that the swelling does not go away even after menstruation, or if you suffer from permanent constipation, this may indicate cancer of the uterus or ovaries. If several weeks pass, but you do not get better, then you can not postpone the trip to the doctor any more. Many women who have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer report that they experienced vague symptoms, such as bloating, but ignored them for several months before seeking help. The feeling of fullness of the stomach, despite a poor appetite, is another common sign of ovarian cancer.

Abnormal menstruation and pelvic pain

Many women have irregular menstruation, but if these periods become harder for you, and you notice spotting between them, or if you have pelvic pain, you should consult a doctor for transvaginal ultrasound. The doctor should check the uterus, ovaries or exclude other possible types of vaginal cancer.

Chronic cough

Almost every person suffered from a cold when he felt that he could spit out the lungs. But if you have a cough that lasts three weeks or more and you do not have other symptoms that usually accompany a cold or allergies (for example, a stuffy nose), this may be an early sign of lung cancer. Leukemia can also cause the same symptoms as bronchitis or the flu. If your cough is different from usual, or if it does not go away for a long time, or if you start to cough up blood, this is very revealing. Some patients with lung cancer complain of chest pain that extends upward, to the shoulder, or down to the arm.

Stomach pain or nausea

Stomach upsetting is so common in our days that it rarely means that you have cancer. But if you notice sudden nausea or persistent stomach cramps, and yet you do not get better, you should consult your doctor. Of course, such symptoms can signal an ulcer, but it can also be leukemia or cancer of the liver, esophagus, pancreas or colon.

Frequent colds and infections

If you used to rarely get sick, but now notice the frequent colds and infections, this may be an early indication of leukemia. Cancer of the blood causes the body to produce leukocytes with pathologies. This undermines the body's ability to fight infections, weakening the immune system. Note the flu-like symptoms, such as fever, that do not go away.

Difficulty in swallowing

Sore throat can make it difficult to swallow and make it particularly painful. But if you notice that this condition persists for several weeks, and only gets worse, consult a doctor. This is a common sign of throat or stomach cancer, as well as an early sign of lung cancer.

Excessive bruising

If you wake up and discover one enigmatic bruise, it's probably not a cause for concern. Perhaps you hit something when you went to the bathroom last night, and do not remember that. But if you start to notice that bruises appear all the time, especially in strange places, such as hands or fingers, you should raise the alarm. Light, unusual bruising can be a sign of leukemia, according to the American Cancer Center. Over time, leukemia reduces the ability of the blood to carry oxygen, which causes blood clots.

Unexplained weight loss

Weight loss for most women is an occasion for joy. But if you have lost your appetite, although you have not complained about it before, and you have not encountered any problems or events in life that could affect it, it means that it is necessary to pass the diagnosis. Losing weight or an unusual change in appetite can be a sign of many cancers, including the esophagus, pancreas, liver and colon. But most often it is a sign of leukemia or lymphoma.

Constant fatigue

Every woman has days when she does not have enough energy. But you should feel cheerful after a good night's sleep. If you notice that you feel tired every day for a month or longer, or if you have shortness of breath, which was not the case before, you should consult a doctor. In most cases, the cause is not in the development of cancer, but it is best to check to know for sure. Leukemia and lymphoma usually cause permanent fatigue.

Chronic headaches

If you are not prone to migraines, and you never get a headache, but suddenly you realize that you have started to reach for ibuprofen every day, this can be a sign of a brain tumor that presses on nerves and causes pain.

Blood in the stool

Most likely, this is a sign of a benign tumor, for example, hemorrhoids. But it can also be a sign of colon cancer. This symptom is increasingly found in people under the age of 50 years. In such cases, experts primarily recommend screening for colon cancer. This diagnosis is very important. It's easy to think that this is hemorrhoids or constipation, and if the problem comes and goes, people calm themselves that nothing has happened. This attitude is especially frequent among young people. But blood in the intestine is never a normal phenomenon, so it's worth checking out.

Noticeable skin changes

Skin cancer is one of the most common types of this disease, and thus its early signs are the hardest to recognize. Skin cancer is so difficult to diagnose, because many people think that they have freckles or moles, or darker age spots. If you notice that the mole becomes darker, increases in size, or becomes convex, it should be checked. Melanoma-altered skin is easier to identify, because these spots often have an irregular shape than moles, dark color, or even a combination of several shades. Melanoma is much less common than other types of skin cancer, but at the same time it is more dangerous. Nevertheless, melanoma is characterized by a long period when it is not aggressive, and it can be cured, but only at an early stage.

Ulcers or pain in the mouth

If you notice that you have started to develop mouth ulcers that do not heal, white or red spots on the gums or tongue, swelling or numbness of the jaw, this may be a sign of some cancers of the oral cavity. If these symptoms persist for two weeks, you should consult your doctor.