The Early Warning
Signs Of Cancer - What To Look Out For
by Dr Vernon Coleman and Donna
Many cancers are
curable - especially if caught early. Here are some of the cancer signs you
should watch out for:
1. Cancer of the large bowel: change in
bowel habits (diarrhoea or constipation or a feeling that the bowel hasn't
emptied properly) which has persisted for more than a few days, unexplained
weight loss, pain in the lower abdomen or rectum, blood in the stools, changes
in the shape of the stools, fatigue.
2. Cancer of the cervix: unexplained
bleeding or discharge between periods, pain or bleeding after sex, weight
3. Cancer of the breast: swelling or lump in breast, bloody
discharge from the nipple, a nipple which has suddenly become inverted, enlarged
glands in armpit, dimpling of the skin of the breast.
4. Cancer of the
lung: persistent bad cough; blood in sputum, chest pain, wheezing, shortness of
breath, weight loss.
5. Cancer of the stomach: weight loss, persistent
indigestion, vomiting blood, lump in abdomen, feeling full after very small
6. Cancer of the liver: pain in abdomen, loss of appetite, weight
loss, whites of eyes have turned yellow, yellow skin, abdomen swollen.
Cancer of the ovary: irregular periods, discomfort in abdomen, pain during sex,
hard lump in abdomen, bowel problems, excessive hair growth, voice gets
8. Cancer of the brain: headaches, vomiting, visual disturbances,
weakness or paralysis, dizziness, double vision, fits, memory loss, personality
9. Cancer of the skin: skin lesion that, bleeds, gets larger,
changes shape, size or colour and/or doesn't heal.
10. Cancer of the
prostate: pain on passing urine, urine retention, difficulty in passing urine
and a need to pass urine more frequently, especially at night.
of the testicle: a firm lump in the scrotum or an enlarged testis.
Cancer of the blood (leukaemia): tiredness, paleness, bruising, shortness of
breath, weakness, bleeding easily, lots of infections.
13. Cancer of the
womb: abnormal bleeding, lump felt in abdomen.
14. Cancer of the throat:
hoarseness, lump in throat, difficulty in swallowing, swollen glands in neck.
A patient with cancer may suffer from one, all or
none of these symptoms. These symptom lists are not comprehensive. Patients may
suffer from one or more of these symptoms without suffering from cancer. If you
are at all worried see your doctor as soon as possible for advice.
Copyright Vernon Coleman and Donna Antoinette Coleman 2005
Taken from Health Secrets Doctors Share With Their Families by
Vernon Coleman & Donna Antoinette Coleman, published by the European Medical
Journal at £12.99 and available from the bookshop on this website and from all
good bookshops everywhere.