Cancer symptoms women ignore

According to studies, women tend to be more vigilant than men, when doctors recommend health checkups such as cancer screenings, writes Dr Kizito Lubano

With an increased frequency and distribution of cancer in Kenya, we asked experts to talk about the symptoms that may not immediately make a woman worry about cancer, but that should be checked out. Here are 15 possible cancer symptoms women often ignore.

1. Unexplained weight loss

Many women would be delighted to lose weight without trying. But unexplained weight loss—say ten pounds in a month without an increase in exercise or a decrease in food intake should be checked out.

2. Bloating

Bloating is so common that many women just live with it. But it could point to ovarian cancer. Other symptoms of ovarian cancer include abdominal pain or pelvic pain, feeling full quickly—even when you haven’t eaten much—and urinary problems, such as having an urgent need to go to the bathroom.

3. Breast changes

Most women know their breasts well, even if they don’t do regular self-exams, like looking out for lumps. But that’s not the only breast symptom that could point to cancer. Redness and thickening of the skin on the breast, which could indicate a very rare, but aggressive form of breast cancer, inflammatory breast cancer, also needs to be examined.

Likewise, if the look of a nipple changes, or if you notice discharge when not breastfeeding requires one to see a doctor.

4. Between-period bleeding and other unusual bleeding

Pre-menopausal women tend to ignore between-period bleeding. They also tend to ignore bleeding from the gastro-intestinal tract; mistakenly thinking it is from their period. But between-period bleeding, especially if you are typically regular, bears checking out.

5. Skin changes

Most of us know how to look for any changes in moles, a well-known sign of skin cancer. But we should also watch for changes in skin pigmentation.

6. Difficulty swallowing

Those who have difficulty swallowing, often turn to soups or liquid foods such as protein shakes to ease swallowing. But such symptom should never be ignored, since they could herald serious throat problems.

7. Blood in the wrong places

If you notice blood in your urine or your stool, don’t assume it’s from a hemorrhoid. It could be signs of colon cancer. Coughing up blood should be evaluated too.

8. Gnawing abdominal pain and depression

Any woman with pain in the abdomen and is feeling depressed needs a checkup. Some researchers have found a link between depression and pancreatic cancer. But this condition is a poorly understood connection.

9. Indigestion

Women who have been pregnant may remember the indigestion that occurred as they gained weight. But indigestion for no apparent reason may be a red flag.

10. Mouth changes

Smokers should be, especially alert for any white patches inside the mouth, or white spots on the tongue. Both can point to a precancerous condition called leukoplakia that can progress to oral cancer.

11. Pain in various parts of the body

As people age they seem to complain more of various aches and pains, but pain, as vague as it may be, can also be an early symptom of some cancers, although most pain complaints are not from cancer.

12. Changes in the lymph nodes

If you notice lumps or swellings in the lymph nodes under your armpit or in your neck—or anywhere else, this could be worrisome.

13. Fever

If you have a fever that isn’t explained by influenza or other infection, it could point to cancer. Fevers more often occur after cancer has spread from its original site, but it can also point to early blood cancers such as leukemia or lymphoma. Other cancer symptoms can include jaundice, or a change in the colour of your stool.

14. Fatigue

Fatigue is another vague symptom that could point to cancer—as well as a host of other problems.

15. Persistent cough

Coughs are expected with colds, the flu, allergies, and sometimes are a side effect of medications. But a very prolonged cough—defined as lasting more than three or four weeks should not be ignored.