Cancer can cause many symptoms, but these symptoms are most often caused by illness, injury, benign tumors, or other problems. If you have symptoms that do not get better after a few weeks, see your doctor so that problems can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible. Often, cancer does not cause pain, so do not wait to feel pain before seeing a doctor.
Important Things to Know About Cancer Symptoms
- Cancer can cause different signs in your body, but these signs can also mean other, less serious things.
- If you have any changes in your body that don’t go away after a few weeks, see your doctor.
- Don’t wait until you feel pain to get checked out, cancer doesn’t always hurt at first.
Some possible signs of cancer include:
- Lumps in your breast or other parts of the body
- Changes to your skin, like new moles or sores that don’t heal
- Problems with peeing or pooping
- Coughing that won’t go away
- Feeling very tired all the time
- Trouble eating or feeling sick to your stomach
- Getting fevers or sweating at night for no reason
- Losing or gaining weight without trying
Remember: It’s important to talk to your doctor if you notice anything unusual!
Some of the symptoms that cancer may cause include:
Breast changes
- Lump or firm feeling in your breast or under your arm
- Nipple changes or discharge
- Skin that is itchy, red, scaly, dimpled, or puckered
Bladder changes
- Trouble urinating
- Pain when urinating
- Blood in the urine
Bleeding or bruising, for no known reason
Bowel changes
- Blood in the stools
- Changes in bowel habits
Cough or hoarseness that does not go away
Eating problems
- Pain after eating (heartburn or indigestion that doesn’t go away)
- Trouble swallowing
- Belly pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Appetite changes
Fatigue that is severe and lasts
Fever or night sweats for no known reason
Mouth changes
- A white or red patch on the tongue or in your mouth
- Bleeding, pain, or numbness in the lip or mouth
Neurological problems
- Headaches
- Seizures
- Vision changes
- Hearing changes
- Drooping of the face
Skin changes
- A flesh-colored lump that bleeds or turns scaly
- A new mole or a change in an existing mole
- A sore that does not heal
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes)
Swelling or lumps anywhere such as in the neck, underarm, stomach, and groin
Weight gain or weight loss for no known reason
Ref: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/diagnosis-staging/symptoms