Warning Signs of Cancer

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

One-third of all cancers are curable. That means you can beat the disease with early detection and treatment. To do this, you should be aware of the early signs and symptoms of cancer. These are the following:





A change in bowel or bladder habits.

A sore throat that does not heal.

Unusual bleeding or discharge.

Thickening or lumps in the breast or elsewhere.

Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing.

An obvious change in a wart or mole.

A nagging cough or hoarseness.

Unexplained anemia.

If you have any of these symptoms, don't be afraid. See a doctor or cancer specialist immediately. Early detection and prompt action by a physician can help you beat cancer. Delaying your visit to the doctor because of your fear of getting cancer will only make matters worse. As the American Cancer Society says:

“A fear of cancer can prevent you from detecting cancer at an early stage. A stage when it is highly curable. Everyone's afraid of cancer, but don’t let it scare you to death.”

Cancer can strike anyone. It can occur anywhere. But the most common types are cancer of the lung, breast, cervix, and colon.

The National Cancer Institute estimates that 215,020 men and women (114,690 men and 100,330 women) will be diagnosed with and 161,840 men and women will die of cancer of the lung this year.

"Pulmonary cancer accounts for more than 120,000 deaths every year, and is the most common cause of death from malignancy in both sexes. The cure rate is low even under the best of circumstances, and the level of suffering is high," said Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld of the New York Hospital - Memorial Bloan-Kettering Cancer Center in “The Best Treatment.”

Lung cancer is common in the 45 to 70 age group and is often seen in urban areas. Cigarette smoking is responsible for about 90 percent of cancer cases among men and 79 percent among women.

A person who smokes more than one pack of cigarettes a day has a 20 times greater risk of lung cancer than a nonsmoker. If you smoke two or more packs daily for 20 years, your chances of acquiring lung cancer increases from 60 to 70 percent. (Next: How cigarettes cause cancer.)