Cancer in the young: Key symptoms you're likely overlooking
Each year, we see cancer being diagnosed in increasingly younger individuals. Unfortunately, the body often sends warning signals that are ignored or mistaken for other ailments. Which symptoms should we particularly monitor? Here, we present the most common cancer symptoms that are too often overlooked.
Cancer is an extremely insidious foe. Worldwide, cancers cause the death of about 10 million people each year. They are one of the leading causes of death. Cancer symptoms can vary depending on the type and location of the tumour.
Sometimes, it develops for years without causing significant ailments, dulling our vigilance. Early recognition of the disease is crucial because the sooner it is diagnosed, the better the chances of effective treatment. What signals should we pay attention to?
One of the most common symptoms of cancer is weight loss without a change in diet or increased physical activity. A rapid weight drop in a short time is alarming and should not be disregarded. Nevertheless, many young people, especially women, rejoice when they lose weight without effort, which is very dangerous.
Oncologists appeal on cancer
Cancer often reveals itself through enlarged lymph nodes. In the case of lung cancer, one may observe haemoptysis, i.e., the presence of blood in saliva. This type of cancer is also characterised by an intense, exhausting cough or a change in its nature, as well as hoarseness and shortness of breath.
Gastrointestinal cancers often manifest with abdominal pain, a feeling of fullness after a small meal, loss of appetite, difficulty swallowing, and morning nausea. Abdominal pains are also common among people with bowel cancers, regardless of their age.
They may also be accompanied by bowel movement problems or a change in bowel movement rhythm, stool blood, and pain during defecation. Diarrhoea, constipation, haematuria, a feeling of incomplete bowel evacuation, bladder pressure, difficulty urinating, and a change in urine colour may appear.
Other symptoms that may indicate the development of cancer include frequent infections, lumps in various parts of the body, skin changes in the mouth or on the genitals, changes in the appearance of the breasts, bleeding from the reproductive tract during intercourse, and the accompanying pain. Cancer patients may also experience seizures, night sweats, and fever without a clear cause.
