What Are the Symptoms of Cancer?

What Are the Signs of Cancer? Cancer is undoubtedly one of the most feared diseases today! Approximately 15 million people worldwide and around 175,000 people in our country are diagnosed with cancer each year. Although the number of patients receiving a cancer diagnosis is increasing nowadays, thanks to groundbreaking developments in diagnosis and treatment as well as regular screening programs, the number of cancer patients who are able to live healthy lives for many years is steadily increasing. Prof. Dr. Aziz Yazar, Medical Oncology Specialist at Acıbadem Altunizade Hospital, points out that early diagnosis plays a key role in achieving successful results in cancer treatment, stating: "By undergoing regular screening and consulting a physician promptly when symptoms occur, we can enable early detection of cancer and thereby increase the chances of successful treatment. Nowadays, complete cure can be achieved for many types of cancer detected early, or patients are able to live healthy lives for many years. All that is needed is to not neglect regular screening and to consult a physician without delay if cancer symptoms appear," he says. Prof. Dr. Aziz Yazar, Medical Oncology Specialist at Acıbadem Altunizade Hospital, has described the important signals of cancer and provided warnings and recommendations.

Cough

During winter months and the pandemic, cough most frequently develops due to COVID-19 infection, colds and flu as well as other respiratory tract infections. Additionally, reflux, certain blood pressure medications, asthma and many other factors can cause cough. However, be careful! Cough, which can be overlooked during winter months with the assumption that it stems from upper respiratory tract infection, can also be an important sign of lung cancer! Medical Oncology Specialist Prof. Dr. Aziz Yazar warns that if cough persists even four weeks after respiratory tract infection resolves, a physician must be consulted, stating: "In people with a history of smoking and those who develop cough complaints without infection, investigations are performed considering the possibility of lung cancer."

Hoarseness

During winter months, hoarseness most frequently results from respiratory tract infections such as influenza and pharyngitis, but reflux, polyps as well as many other factors such as smoking can cause this problem. Hoarseness can also indicate laryngeal cancer! Prof. Dr. Aziz Yazar notes that if hoarseness persists for longer than 3-4 weeks, an ear, nose and throat examination is essential, stating: "Hoarseness beginning especially in smokers makes us more likely to suspect laryngeal cancer."

Bleeding

Bleeding can occur in various parts of our body and determining the cause of this problem is of vital importance. Because bleeding, which can result from many causes, can also be a sign of cancer! While bleeding accompanied by vomiting suggests stomach cancer, bloody sputum brings lung and respiratory tract cancers to mind. Bleeding in the urinary tract can also develop due to bladder, ureter and kidney cancers. In addition to these, bleeding occurring in the rectum, or in other words in the anus, can result from colorectal cancer, while vaginal bleeding can result from cervical cancer or uterine cancer. Medical Oncology Specialist Prof. Dr. Aziz Yazar stated: "Of course, cancer is not the only cause of bleeding, but cancer should be kept in mind in such situations."

Weight Loss

Weight loss can also result from many causes. If weight loss occurs without dieting to lose weight and this problem is accompanied by loss of appetite, the underlying cause may be kidney failure, liver disease, chronic bronchitis, overactive thyroid, diabetes and intestinal absorption disorder. Prof. Dr. Aziz Yazar says that in addition to these factors, weight loss can also be a sign of cancer, stating: "Weight loss is not specific to a particular cancer but is a symptom that can be seen in many types of cancer."

Pain

Pain functions like an alarm system in our body and indicates that something is not right. Pain can be an important sign of cancer in addition to many other diseases. Medical Oncology Specialist Prof. Dr. Aziz Yazar emphasizes that the location of pain varies depending on the type of cancer, continuing as follows: "Persistent abdominal pain, especially when accompanied by weight loss, can suggest stomach, colorectal or pancreatic cancer. Chest wall pain can result from lung cancer or lung membrane cancer (mesothelioma). Persistent headaches can indicate brain tumors. Recently developed, persistent bone pain in the same location can result from cancer spread."

Skin Changes

Raised or conversely sunken growths appearing particularly in sun-exposed areas of the skin are evaluated for skin cancer. Squamous cell and basal cell cancers, the most frequently occurring skin cancers, manifest themselves with such signs. Melanoma, the most important cancer of the skin, usually develops in moles. Melanoma should be suspected if symmetry of a mole is lost, color changes (becomes mottled), mole borders become irregular, weeping develops on the mole (ulceration) and the diameter of the mole increases.

Difficulty Swallowing

Difficulty swallowing can result from causes such as iron deficiency anemia, achalasia, infection and diverticulum, but the source of the problem can also be cancer. Cancers that can cause difficulty swallowing include esophageal cancer, stomach cancer, pharyngeal cancer and cancers that exert external pressure on the esophagus (lung cancer, lymphoma, thymoma). Therefore, a physician must be consulted if newly developed difficulty swallowing occurs.

Swelling

Medical Oncology Specialist Prof. Dr. Aziz Yazar notes that any swelling noticed in the body must be taken seriously and a physician must be consulted without delay, stating: "Swelling can develop in the mouth, muscles, bones, skin, breast or testicles depending on the type of cancer. For example, a mass newly detected in the breast suggests breast cancer. Swelling in the testicles in men can also be a sign of testicular cancer. Swelling developing in the mouth indicates oral cancer, while skin swelling can be a sign of skin cancer and muscle swelling can indicate sarcoma."

Non-Healing Wounds

It is very important that wounds in our body that take a long time to heal or do not heal are thoroughly examined and monitored. The reason is that non-healing wounds on the skin can result from diabetes as well as skin cancer. Additionally, wounds that develop in the mouth in the form of canker sores, grow and do not heal can also indicate oral cavity cancer.

Anemia

Anemia, in other words lack of blood, is a very frequently occurring disease in our country. It results from many causes and most frequently develops due to iron deficiency. Iron deficiency-related anemia developing in men and women after menopause must be investigated. This is because stomach and colorectal cancers can first manifest themselves as iron deficiency anemia.