8 Visible Signs That You Should Go For Cancer Screening

It’s common for men to balk at the idea of seeing a doctor; but when it comes to cancer, seeing your doctor sooner always works to your best advantage. Cancer screening helps increase the chances of early detection and successful treatment. Some early signs of cancer are hard to determine because they feel the same as symptoms of more common illnesses. You should discuss cancer screening with your doctor if any of the below symptoms persist.

While different cancers would have different symptoms, some early signs of cancer are common. If you notice these 8 signs, put down the remote control and pay your doctor a visit to discuss the possible need for cancer screening.

Talk To Your Doctor About Cancer Screening When You See These Signs

1. Mole – Do you notice a mole in your body that was not there before? Do you notice a change in size and colour of an existing mole? Is your skin too dry that it feels scaly and bleeds easily? Cancer Research UK explains that the development and appearance of new moles, and the changes in size, shape and colour of existing moles, could be signs of skin cancer. Moles can appear on the face, arms and legs, and even in the back where it is hidden from your own view. See your doctor for skin cancer screening if you have any suspicious moles.
2. Bleeding – Any bleeding should signal an alarm. See your doctor immediately if you pass any bloody stool. This could be a sign of colon cancer. Vomiting or coughing up blood should never be ignored too, as this may be due to any cancers of the head and neck, upper digestive system or lung cancer.
3. Patches in the tongue – Stick out your tongue in front of the mirror. Do you notice white patches on your tongue or inside your mouth? This could be an early warning sign of oral cancer. You are especially at risk if you are a smoker, have a habit of chewing tobacco or betel nut.
4. Lumps – Lumps or swelling in the breast, the lymph nodes, your testicles, behind your ears, or any other part of your body, need to be examined. Cancer growths usually manifest themselves in the form of abnormal masses or lumps in your body. See your doctor for cancer screening when you notice any unusual lumps in any part of your body.
5. Fatigue – According to the American Cancer Society, fatigue could be early signs of leukemia, colon cancer , stomach cancer, or indeed, many other forms of cancer. Don’t mistake work-related fatigue to the type that signals cancer. Have an honest and open discussion with your doctor to have a better understanding if your fatigue is a sign of cancer.
6. Persistent pain – Though you may have a high pain threshold, persistent pain should never be ignored, as it is a known sign of many kinds of cancer. For example, if you notice severe pain in your stomach, dark urine, a yellowing of your skin, and itching, you should see your doctor to rule out pancreatic cancer.
7. Difficulty swallowing, digesting food, and moving bowels – All these may be signs of different kinds of cancer, including cancer of the throat, esophagus, stomach, or colon. Remember, swallowing, digesting food, and moving bowels are normal body processes; your body should be able to do these with comfort and ease. Discuss the need for cancer screening with your doctor if you experience these symptoms.
8. Sudden, Unexplained Fever – As innocuous as it may seem, fever could be a sign that your cancer is starting to spread. It may be challenging to detect cancer based on fever alone, so be sure to share with your doctor as many details as possible on what you observed about the fever. – When it started, how high it went and how frequently it occurred. Remember, fever associated with flu usually comes with cough and cold. Unexplained fevers may also be associated with cancer of the blood.

Cancer is a serious, life-threatening illness, which can be successfully treated with early detection. Talk to our doctors at The Harley Street Heart and Cancer Centre about cancer screening today.