THE GENERAL SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF CANCER

A sign is a signal that something is not right in the body and can be seen by someone else. Example fever, fast breathing, and abnormal lung sounds heard through a stethoscope may be signs of pneumonia. Where as Symptoms are felt or noticed by the person who has them, but may not be easily seen by anyone else. For example, weakness aches, and feeling short of breath may be symptoms of pneumonia. Example weakness aches, and feeling short of breath may be symptoms of pneumonia. Sometimes, a patient's signs and symptoms still don't give the doctor enough clues to figure out the cause of an illness. Then medical tests, such as x-rays, blood tests, or a biopsy may be needed.
 Cancer is a group of diseases that can cause almost any sign or symptom. The signs and symptoms will depend on where the cancer is, how big it is, and how much it affects the organs or tissues. If a cancer has spread (metastasized), signs or symptoms may appear in different parts of the body. Sometimes cancer starts in places where it will not cause any symptoms until it has grown quite large. One example is cancers in the pancreas. They usually do not cause symptoms until they grow large enough to press on nearby nerves or organs (this causes back or belly pain). Others grow around the bile duct and block the flow of bile. This causes the eyes and skin to look yellow (jaundice). By the time a pancreatic cancer causes these signs or symptoms, it is usually in an advanced stage. This means it has grown and spread beyond the pancreas.
A cancer may also cause symptoms like fever, extreme tiredness, or weight loss. This may be because cancer cells use up much of the body's energy supply, or they may release substances that change the way the body makes energy from food. Or the cancer may cause the immune system to react in ways that produce these symptoms.

Here are some of the general signs and symptoms of cancer. But remember, having any of these does not mean that you have cancer -- many other things cause these signs and symptoms, too. If you have any of these symptoms and they last for a long time or get worse, please see a doctor to find out what is going on.


1. WEIGHT LOSS:
When you lose weight with no known reason. An unexplained weight loss of about 5kg or more may be the first sign of cancer. This happens most often with cancers of the pancreas, stomach, esophagus, or lung.
2. HIGH FEVER:
    This is very common with cancer, but it more often happens after cancer has spread from where it started. Almost all patients with cancer will have fever at some time, especially if the cancer or its treatment affects the immune system. This can make it harder for the body to fight infection. Less often, fever may be an early sign of cancer, such as blood cancers like leukemia or lymphoma.
3. EXTREME TIREDNESS:
   This extreme tiredness does not get better with rest. It may be an important symptom as cancer grows. It may happen early, though, in cancers like leukemia. Some colon or stomach cancers can cause blood loss. This is another way cancer can cause fatigue.
4. PAINS:
    Pain may be an early symptom with some cancers like bone cancers or testicular cancer. A headache that does not go away or get better with treatment may be a symptom of a brain tumor. Back pain can be a symptom of cancer of the colon, rectum, or ovary. Most often, pain due to cancer is a symptom of cancer that has already spread from where it started.
5. CHANGE IN BOWEL HABIT:
     If you experience constipation, diarrhea, blood in the stools, gas, thinner stools, or just a general overall change in bowel habits, see your doctor. These symptoms are most commonly associated with colon cancer, but are also related to other cancer types.
6. A PERSISTENT COUGH:
     New cough or a cough that won't go away or becomes worse needs to be evaluated by a doctor. Blood and/or mucus may accompany the cough and can be caused many conditions. In relation to cancer, a chronic cough with blood or mucus can be symptom of lung cancer.
7. SKIN DISCOLORATION:
    Along with cancers of the skin, some other cancers can cause skin symptoms or signs that can be seen.

They Includes:
•    Darker looking skin (hyperpigmentation)
•    Yellowish skin and eyes (jaundice)
•    Reddened skin (erythema)
•    Itching (pruritis)
•    Excessive hair growth.
These are very general, vague symptoms of cancer but are also linked to many other non-cancerous conditions. If you have one or two of these symptoms, it is not a sure pronouncement of cancer but more an indication to your doctor to run certain medical tests.  READ MORE HERE

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