Cancer is one of the most feared genetic diseases in the world. It causes by changes to genes that control the way our cell functions. Cancers form when normal cells in our body start to divide out of control over time, the growing cancer mass destroys nearby healthy cells. Many of the triggers that cause a normal cell to start to divide out of control are found inside the cell in our DNA. Cancer can start anywhere in the body, which is made up of trillions of cells.
Cancer is basically abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors (lump of tissues) that do not spread. Tumors can be cancerous or non -cancerous (benign). Many cancers form solid tumors but cancer of the blood such as leukemias, generally do not.
We can win our fight against if it is identified at an early age. Our body keeps giving us signal we just need to catch them up. The following are some of the early signals of cancer:
- Abrupt and extreme weight loss/gain – extreme weight loss or gain of 10 pounds for no known reason might be one of the signs of onset of cancer. As many as of 2 out of 5 people who are diagnosed with cancer have either lost or gained weight.
- Excessive weariness – excessive tiredness is one of the common symptoms of cancer. We are not talking about normal exhaustion – it is about extreme fatigue that does not get better with rest. If enough sleep and rest does not make you feel good, you might better see a doctor.
- Continuous coughing – catching a cold and coughing is normal but if it does not get better within a week or continues for a month then it might be a sign of lung cancer along with symptoms like chest pain, hoarseness, fatigue, and shortness of breath.
- Changes in skin – a revealing sign of skin cancer is growth that might look different or a sore that does not heal. Other signs can be lump that bleeds or turns scaly or a new mole or a sudden change in a mole. Lump in the neck could be an infection but it is also an early warning of thyroid cancer.
- Loss of hungriness – cancer can have a change in your metabolism. You might have eating problems such as not feeling hungry as usual, have trouble gulping down your food, feeling nauseas before or after having a meal or have a belly pain that continues for a long time.
These are some of the common symptoms found among cancer patients. If you notice sudden changes in your body, you might hurry and see a doctor. Diagnosing cancer at the earliest might help you get cured faster.