Early detection of cancer is vital to its successful treatment. In order to do so, there are some symptoms and some risk factors which if present in a patient should arouse the suspicion of the disease. He should then consult urgently his physician or a specialist. The symptoms and risk factors are as follows:
Symptoms
Bleeding: Bleeding after slight injury; vomit mixed with blood; non-injury bleeding from the surface of the skin, mouth or any other bodily orifice or opening; blood in the stool; bleeding per vagina other than menstrual one or after the sexual act or vaginal discharge mixed with blood; phlegm containing blood: blood in urine, continued bleeding after delivery; bleeding from a mole or what looks like a mole, etc.
A Lump or Hard Area: Lump in the abdomen which is found out to be the spleen; a lump in the thyroid; a lump in the inner lining of the lip; lump in the neck; a lump or nodule in the breast; a lump in the muscle; a lump in the arm; a lump in the leg, etc.
Raised Birthmark: Sudden growth in a mole, or birthmark; bleeding from a mole, or what it looks like a mole; formation of a new moles, around an old one, etc.
A Hard base Chronic Sore That Does Not Heal: Particularly if located on the penis or inside of the penis that covers the glans.
Constipation: More so if alternating with loose motions.
Pain and Tender Swelling of the Bone and the Tissue Around it: It may involve bone to break it without much of an injury; continuous and increasing pain over a bone, etc
Loss of Weight: Weight loss without any visible cause especially among adults, in spite of good appetite and intake of nourishing food items.
Diminished Appetite: Diminished appetite or loss of appetite and aversion to taking food.
Feeling of Tiredness: It may be without any apparent reason or accompanied by low-grade fever and increasing weakness, and anemia.
Painless/Painful Swellings: It is different from nodular swellings or a lump—such swellings can be often on one side of the neck or the abdomen; painless swelling with a hard base in the cheek; discomfort or pain sometimes severe in the upper abdomen; enlarged and painful testes, etc.
Difficulty in Swallowing: Difficulty in swallowing solid or semi-solid food or vomiting of food that has been taken lately, sometimes mixed with blood.