Early Symptoms of Cancer

This article is medically reviewed by Dr. Roshni Dasgupta, Consultant - Medical Oncology, HCG Cancer Centre, Bengaluru

Table of Content

Overview
Early Warning Symptoms of Cancer
Cancer Symptoms in Specific Areas of the Body
Signs of Cancer in Women
Symptoms of Cancer in Men
The Importance of Early Detection of Cancer Symptoms
When to See an Oncologist?
Why Choose HCG for Cancer Treatment & Diagnosis?
Conclusion
Frequently Asked Questions

Overview

Cancer becomes a chronic or a life-threatening condition, when not diagnosed and treated in the early stages. However, certain cancers cannot be detected in the early stages because either there are no early symptoms of cancer in the body, or they may be present and overlap with those of some non-cancerous conditions.

It is crucial for one to not ignore these symptoms and consult with a doctor to rule out serious underlying diseases.

Early Warning Symptoms of Cancer

Some cancers show symptoms in the early stages, which makes it easy for patients to seek timely medical attention. The following are some of the early symptoms of cancer:

Heavy Night Sweats or Fever

Several conditions cause heavy night sweats or fevers in patients with cancer, usually in the early stages. These include underlying infection and hormonal changes due to certain cancers. Patients with leukemia usually have high levels of inflammatory mediators that also contribute to heavy sweating and fever. Certain cancers, such as leukemia, lymphoma, and carcinoid tumors, often present with heavy night sweats and fever.

Unexplained Pain

Patients with cancer may also experience unexplained pain both in the early and advanced stages of the disease. Possible reasons for pain in cancer patients include inflammation and neurological disturbances. Cancer cells induce the release of certain growth factors, such as interleukins, cytokines, and chemokines, which cause spinal cord hypersensitivity. Pain may also result from the direct interaction of the tumor with the healthy tissues. The tumor exerts pressure on the surrounding organs and the nerves, resulting in pain. Changes in the levels of certain neurotransmitters also contribute to cancer pain.

Feeling Tired

Weakness, tiredness, and feeling tired without an obvious reason may also be one of the early symptoms of cancer. Patients in the early stages of the disease have a reduced ability to perform physical activities. Cancer fatigue is multifactorial, and several hypotheses are proposed to describe the pathophysiology of cancer-related fatigue. Cancer cells preferentially take up glucose and other nutrients to support its high proliferation rate , depriving normal body cells of the same which manifests as fatigue. The body uses energy to fight against the cancer cells, leaving the patient tired. In addition, comorbidities related to specific cancers, such as malnutrition, infection, hepatic and renal conditions, thyroid dysfunction, and anxiety and depression, cause cancer-related fatigue.

Formation of a New Mole or Changes in the Existing One

A new mole or changes in the shape, size, and appearance of an existing mole may be a sign of melanoma. This condition may include asymmetrical moles with irregular borders and multiple colors. Although it may occur anywhere on the body, parts exposed to the sun are more commonly affected. Patients should not ignore the symptoms and contact dermatologists for further examination.

Unexplained Weight Loss

Unexplained weight loss is one of the most common early symptoms of cancer, usually in cancers related to the esophagus, lungs, stomach, and pancreas. It has also been reported that about 60% and 80% of patients with lung cancer and upper gastrointestinal cancer, respectively, have significant weight loss and poor appetite by the time the disease is diagnosed. The causes of cancer-related weight loss include fighting against cancer, altered metabolism, loss of appetite, and malnutrition.

Unexplained Bleeding

Patients with cancer may also have unexplained bleeding or bruising as an early sign of cancer. The bleeding may be caused due to abnormal tumor vasculature, local tumor invasion, and coagulopathy. The bleeding is presented in several forms in such patients, which include frequent or excessive gum bleeds or nosebleeds, vomiting blood, or blood in the urine or stool.

Unusual Lump or Swelling Anywhere

Healthy lymph nodes are small and are usually not felt from the outside. However, they swell because of underlying conditions like inflammation, infection, or cancer. Persistent swelling or lumps in any body part may indicate severe underlying conditions, including cancer.

Cancer Symptoms in Specific Areas of the Body

Some of the early warning signs of cancer in your body are:

Symptoms that Affect Breathing

Symptoms that affect breathing are usually due to primary or metastatic lung cancer or cancers that develop in nearby structures and interfere with the breathing process. Breathing difficulty is one of the early signs of lung cancer. Some of the symptoms related to breathing in patients with cancer include shortness of breath, wheezing, chest pain while coughing or taking deep breaths, and hoarseness of voice. Patients with leukemia and other cancers can cause anaemia which is also experienced as shortness of breath.

Symptoms that Affect the Mouth

The symptoms that affect the mouth in patients with cancer are usually because of primary oral cancer. The symptoms of oral cancer that affect the mouth are persistent soreness or swelling on the lips, loosened teeth, difficulty swallowing, changes in speech, numbness or bleeding in the mouth, and red or white patches in the oral cavity.

Symptoms that Affect Voice

Some cancers, such as lung, oral, laryngeal, tongue, and thyroid cancer, can cause voice changes. Hoarseness and wheezing noise are some of the common symptoms of throat cancer and other head and neck cancers. Patients with brain tumors also have symptoms related to speech when the tumor affects the areas of the brain related to speech. The symptoms include difficulty speaking, slurred speech, or stuttering.

Symptoms Affecting Skin

The symptoms of cancer affecting the skin are most commonly due to skin cancer. However, certain other cancers, such as liver cancer, may also cause easy bruising and itching on the skin. Some skin cancer symptoms include bumps, new moles, changes in the existing moles, small lesions, painful lesions, difficult-to-heal sores, and red patches.

Symptoms Affecting Breasts

The symptoms of cancer affecting the breasts are most commonly caused by primary or metastatic breast cancer. Some of the common breast cancer symptoms include swelling or lumps in the breast; changes in breast skin, such as redness or dimpling; changes in shape and size of one or both breasts; nipple discharge; inverted nipple; and pain in the armpit or breasts.

Signs of Cancer in Women

The signs of cancer in the body in women depend upon the type of cancer. However, certain cancers, such as ovarian and uterine cancer, are specific to women.

Some of the early signs of cancer in women that they should not ignore include bloating, changes in the breast, abnormal vaginal bleeding, vaginal discharge, and postmenopausal bleeding.

Symptoms of Cancer in Men

Symptoms of cancer in men are almost similar to those seen in women. However, they may vary for cancers that are only diagnosed in men.

Some of the early signs of cancer in men, especially for penile and prostate cancers, include erectile dysfunction, painful ejaculation, blood in the semen, a lump in the penis, penile soreness, change in the penis color, pain, swelling, and tenderness in the testicles.

The common cancer signs non-specific to men and women are fatigue, unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, persistent coughing, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, blood in the stool and urine, and changes in skin characteristics.

The Importance of Early Detection of Cancer Symptoms

There are several advantages to the patients if the cancer is detected early. These include:

More Treatment Options: Patients with cancers diagnosed in the early stages have more treatment options than those diagnosed in the advanced stages.

Fewer Side Effects: Patients who are diagnosed with early-stage cancers require less aggressive treatment than those with advanced-stage cancers. Thus, the side effect profile for treatment is less severe.

Improved Survival: Studies reported that patients diagnosed in the early stages of cancer, when treated appropriately, have a higher survival rate compared to those with advanced stages. The survival probability reduces as the stage of cancer increases.

Enhanced Quality of Life: Because of the less aggressive treatment, side effects, and high probability of survival, those diagnosed in the early stages of cancer have relatively better quality of life.

Low Financial Burden: As the disease progresses, newer and more expensive treatment options are required, which adds to the overall cost of care. Patients diagnosed with early stages of cancer may be treated with conventional, less expensive treatment methods.

When to See an Oncologist?

Patients, especially those with a history of cancer or who are at increased risk for cancer, should not ignore the early signs and symptoms of cancer, no matter how simple they seem. Patients should book an appointment with the doctor if they experience early symptoms of cancer, such as unexplained fatigue, unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, shortness of breath, change in the skin, easy bruising and bleeding, blood in stools, urine, phlegm or per vaginum as contact bleeding or post menopausal bleeding, swelling or lumps anywhere in the body.

Why Choose HCG for Cancer Treatment & Diagnosis?

HCG Cancer Centre is one of India's most advanced cancer care centers. The hospital has several branches throughout the country that offer various facilities for diagnosing and treating all types of cancers. The hospital also has experienced medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, radiologists, domain-specific physicians, and nutritionists to provide complete care to cancer patients. The facilities offered at the hospital are on par with international guidelines.

Conclusion

Early symptoms of cancer include unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite, weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, persistent cough, blood in the stools, and fever and night sweats. Women-specific symptoms of cancer are abnormal bleeding, vaginal discharge, and breast changes. Men specific symptoms include swelling and pain in the testicles, a lump on the penis, and blood in the semen. Patients should not ignore early stage cancer symptoms and should consult the doctor.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the biggest indicator of cancer?

Cancer may affect different patients differently, depending on the location and type. Although there is no single biggest indicator for all types of cancer, the most common symptoms are weight loss, fatigue, and loss of appetite or lumps or non healing ulcers anywhere.

Are early symptoms the same for all types of cancer?

Some symptoms, such as fatigue, weakness, and loss of weight and appetite, are usually common for most cancers. However, the other symptoms are cancer-specific, such as abdominal pain for abdominal cancer and shortness of breath and persistent cough for lung cancer.

Can lifestyle factors influence the early symptoms of cancer?

Lifestyle factors affect the early symptoms of cancer. Smoking, excessive drinking, and an unhealthy lifestyle make the symptoms more severe.

How often should I check for early signs of cancer?

Although there is no screening schedule for most cancers, people with increased risk for cancer should routinely check the signs and, more importantly, should not ignore any of the symptoms.

Screening for a few cancer types after a certain age, namely breast , cervix, prostate, lung in general population and a few other cancers in high risk gene carriers are statistically proven to be beneficial in detection and cure rates of early stage cancer in these sites.

How do the first signs of cancer start?

There is no one 1st sign of cancer, which is common for all cancers. Although different cancers present with different signs, some symptoms are common to most cancers.

These include weight loss, fatigue, weakness, tiredness, compromised immunity, and loss of appetite.

What are pre-cancer symptoms?

Precancerous symptoms include abdominal pain (due to polyp growth), changes in the mole characteristics, oral leukoplakia , prolonged pain, persistent sores, chronic fatigue, and swelling of lymph nodes.

References

About the Author

Author Bio : Dr. Roshni Dasgupta
Consultant - Medical Oncology
MBBS, MD (General Medicine), DM (Medical Oncology), MRCP UK, MRCP SCE in Medical Oncology, ESMO Certification

Dr. Roshni Dasgupta is a distinguished medical oncologist with over a decade of experience in managing a wide range of cancers through systemic therapies. Her educational credentials include an MBBS degree from IMPGM&R (Kolkata), an MD in general medicine from NRSMCH (Kolkata), and a DM in medical oncology from BJMCH GCRI (Ahmedabad). Additionally, Dr. Roshni has completed her MRCP UK diploma and MRCP SCE in Medical Oncology, along with ESMO certification.

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