Cancer Symptoms that Women Often Ignore

Cancer symptoms should always to reported to a doctor for proper diagnoses and treatment, but there are many symptoms that are not necessarily associated with cancer so women should be aware of their possibly dangerous implications. Education about cancer symptoms is important because many signs may be ignored as women think they are the result of other conditions.

Cancer symptoms often neglected by women, according to WebMD, include unexplained weight loss, bloating, breast changes, bleeding between periods, skin changes, difficulty swallowing, blood in the wrong place, gnawing abdominal pain, indigestion, mouth changes, pain, changes in the lymph nodes, fever, fatigue and persistent cough.

Unexplained Weight Loss

Weight loss without an explanation can be a cause for concern because most people do not lose weight easily. In fact, most women would be delighted to lose weight without trying. Weight loss that cannot be explained by eating less or exercising more should be checked out by a doctor because it can be caused by cancer or by another medical condition that requires treatment.

Bloating

Bloating is a symptom that many women have learned to live with because it is so common. Bloating, even though it can be attributed to hormones and other factors, can also be symptom of ovarian cancer, so it should be checked by a doctor. Additional symptoms of ovarian cancer include abdominal pain, felling full quickly and urinary problems such as urgent need to urinate.

Breast Changes

Most women are aware of breast cancer and the need to explore the breast for lumps, but there are also other symptoms that could indicate cancer. Additional breast cancer symptoms include redness and thickening of the breast skin, persistent rash, nipple changes, nipple discharge and nipples that invert when that is abnormal.

Bleeding Between Periods

Bleeding between periods is a symptom that is often ignored by women but it should be checked out by a doctor because it may indicate endometrial cancer. Some women may experience spotting normally, but it is a symptom that should be checked, especially if it is abnormal for you.

Difficulty Swallowing

Difficulty swallowing may cause a person to change their diet to liquids and food that does not require a lot of chewing. The difficulty could be symptom of GI cancer, so it should be checked by a doctor.

Abdominal Pain and Depression

Abdominal pain and depression have been linked to pancreatic cancer. Symptoms related to pancreatic cancer include jaundice and a change in the color of the stool (often gray).

Blood in Wrong Places

Blood in the urine or in the stool could be a symptom of colon cancer, so it should be examined by a doctor. Coughing up blood is another symptom that should be reported to a doctor.

Gnawing Pain in the Abdomen and Depression

Gnawing abdominal pain and depression are possibly symptoms of pancreatic cancer.

Indigestion

Indigestion may be caused by cancer of the stomach, throat or esophagus.

Mouth Changes

Changes in the mouth, such as white patches or spots on the tongue, may be a precancerous condition. Smokers especially should be alert for changes in the mouth. ,

Any symptom that concerns you should be reported to a doctor for proper diagnoses and treatment. Information in this article is not intended as medical advice. If you have questions or concerns about a medical situation, please contact a physician.

Resources:

WebMD

American Cancer Society

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