Common forms of Cancer and Symptoms
What is Cancer
Cancer can develop anywhere in the body. There are over 100 different types of cancer. Cancer affects “cells” the basic building blocks of the body. Cells are constantly created and die. New cells replace the died cells. Some genetic changes break this cycle and allow cells to proliferate in certain parts of the body causing tumors. Most tumors turn out to be benign or non-cancerous. But some tumors become malignant in the sense that they not only grow but also spread to other parts.
Common Symptoms of Cancer
The cancer is classified by the tissue where it originates. A few examples are lung cancer, liver cancer, colon cancer and ovarian cancer. Each cancer type exhibits its own symptoms. Awareness of these symptoms could help one detect cancer early and initiate treatment at the earliest.
Common forms of Cancer
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Childhood Cancer
Symptoms
Symptoms of Childhood Cancer may include :
Frequent fever/infection
Early morning headache with or without vomitting
Unexplained pallor or anaemia
Unexplained Weight Loss
Pain in any part of the body, e.g. bones
Limping
Change in balance or speech
Unusual lump or swelling
Easy bruising or blue patches
Sudden vision change
Bladder Cancer
Bladder Cancer, most often, begins in the cells (urothelial cells) that line the inside of your bladder.
Symptoms
Sometimes when the first symptoms of bladder cancer appears, cancer might have already spread to other organs. Symptoms depend on where the cancer has spread.
Blood Clots in Urine
Fatigue, Weight-Loss, Pallor
increased frequency of urination
Urge to urinate
Lower back pain
Pain/Burning sensation during urination
Blood Cancer
Blood cancers or Leukemias affect blood cells and bone marrow. Blood cancer types include acute or chronic Leukemias, Multiple Myeloma and Lymphoma.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of Blood Cancer may include :
No symptoms
Frequent Fever or infection
Fatigue, Weight Loss, Pallor
Bone Pain
Bleeding or Bruising
Swelling of Lymph Nodes
Bone Cancer
Bone Cancer is diagnosed when unusual cells grow out of control in your bone.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of Bone Cancer include:
Pain and/or swelling at tumour site
Joint swelling or stiffness
Occasional Fever
Weight Loss / Fatigue / Anaemia
Brain Cancer
Brain Cancer is a mass or growth of abnormal cells in your brain. Initially there may be no symptoms or sometimes severe symptoms in some cases. Symptoms may be increasing with activities. Most of the symptoms are caused by the pressure of tumour on different parts of the brain or spinal cord.
Symptoms
Symptoms of Brain Cancer may vary according to the site of the tumour:
Headache – Acute/Persistent, Early morning, Vomiting
Lack of consciousness, drowsiness, seizures, twitching, frequest fall, dizziness, vertigo
Muscular symptoms – Paralysis, weakness on one side of body, Difficulty in walking
Sensory symptoms – Pins and Needles sensation, Reduced sensation, Problems with coordination
Cognitive Symptoms – Mental confusion, Speech and hearing loss, Inability to understand words, loss of memory, Blurred vision
Pituitary Gland – Lactation and Menstrual disorder
Brain Stem – Facial weakness, numbness, double vision
Occipital Lobe – Loss of vision
Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer is cancer that forms in the cells of breasts.
Symptoms
Symptoms of Breast Cancer may include :
Pain in the Breast
Change in shape or size
Dimple in the Breast Skin
Pulling-in of nipple
Discharge from Nipple
Lump in breast/Underarm
Cervical Cancer
Cervical Cancer is a type of cancer that occurs in the cells of the cervix.
Symptoms
Symptoms of Cervical Cancer may include :
No symptoms in the initial stages
Bleeding in-between periods
Bleeding after menopause
Bloody watery vaginal discharge
Bleeding/pain during or after intercourse
Menstrual abnormalities
Colo-Rectal Cancer
Colo-Rectal cancer manifests typically in the form of tumour in the intestines or the rectum.
Symptoms
Symptoms of Colo-Rectal Cancer may include :
No symptoms in the initial stages
Changing bowel habits
Constipation
Narrow stools / Blood in stool
Passing excessive amounts of gas
Pain in abdomen
Feeling bowel is not empty
Unexplained Weight Loss
Eye Cancer
Eye cancer is a malignancy that starts and grows in your eye
Symptoms
Symptoms of Eye Cancer may include :
Blurred Vision
Dark patch inside eye growing in size
Bulging of one eye
Tumour on eye lid that is growing
Kidney Cancer
Kidney Cancer is cancer that begins in the lining of the tubules in the kidney.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of Kidney Cancer include:
Passing red coloured urine without pain
Lower back pain without injury
Long-standing fever
Lump in the lumbar region (lower back)
Liver Cancer
Liver Cancer, also known as Hepatic Cancer or Primary Hepatic Cancer or Primary Hepatic Malignancy, is a cancer that begins in the liver.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of Kidney Cancer include:
No symptoms
Nausea / Vomiting
Pain in Upper Abdomen
Dark Urine
Yellow eyes and skin (Jaundice)
Itching
Lung Cancer
Lung Cancer is the type of cancer that originates in the lungs.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of Lung Cancer include:
Chronic Cough – Dry / With Phlegm / With Blood
Chest Pain – worsening upon coughing or deep breathing
Shortness of Breath
Bronchitis or Pneumonia – recurring and not responding to medicines
Pancoast Tumour – Weakness, Drooping of one of the upper eyelids, smaller pupil of the same eye, lack of sweating on one side of the face
Superior Vena Cava Syndrome – swelling of neck, face, arm, upper chest; dizziness; drowsiness; headache
Hormone Originated – ADH Hormone triggered, ACTH Hormone triggered
Brain / Nervous Systems Impacted – Symptoms of muscular systems
Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system, which includes lymph nodes, spleen, thymus and bone marrow.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of Lymphatic Cancer include:
No symptoms
Fatigue / Weight Loss
Frequent fever / Infection
Painless swelling of Lymph Nodes
Oral Cancer
Oral Cancer refers to cancer that develops in your oral cavity like the tongue, floor of the mouth (under the tongue) and buccal mucosa (the inner linings of cheeks).
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of Oral Cancer include:
Loose teeth
White or Reddish patch in the mouth
Lump inside the mouth
Lump in the neck
Mouth Pain
Ear Pain
Persistent Lip or Mouth sore
Difficulty in swallowing
Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer is a growth of cells that forms in the ovaries.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of Ovarian Cancer include:
No / Vague symptoms in the initial stages
Heaviness in lower abdomen
Bloating / Nausea / Indigestion
Discomfort in pelvic area
Urgency to pass urine
Menstrual changes
Pain during or after intercourse
Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic Cancer develops when uncontrolled cell growth begins in a part of the pancreas.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer include:
Generally there are no symptoms in the early stages. Most people diagnosed are already in advanced stages. Late stages are associated with symptoms which are non-specific.
Pain in abdomen which radiates to the back
Dark urine
Fluid in abdomen
Sudden diabetes – Non Genetic
Yellow eyes and skin (Jaundice)
Pale floating smelly stool
Prostate Cancer
Prostate Cancer is cancer that begins in the prostates.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of Prostate Cancer include:
Difficulty in starting or maintaining urine stream
Dribbling urine
Urge to urinate
Increased frequency of urine – small quantity discharged
Blood in semen
Skin Cancer – Basal Cell Carcinoma
Basal Cell Carcinoma occurs, most often, in areas exposed to the Sun like head or neck.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of Basal Cell Carcinoma include:
Flat scaly patch with raised edge
Shiny skin-coloured bumps
Pimples that do not go away
Brown, black or blue lesion with slightly raised translucent border in Sun-exposed area.
Skin Cancer – Melanoma
ABCDE Rule : Asymmetry, Border, Colour, Diameter, Evolving). Any of these can be treated as a Symptom/Warning sign.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of Melanoma include:
Changing sensation like itchiness or tenderness
New growth in mole
Big mole
Change in color / size / shape of existing mole
Irregular border or asymmetrical shape of mole
Skin Cancer – Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Squamous Cell Carcinoma occurs most often on skin exposed to the Sun.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of Squalous Cell Carcinoma include:
Red raised patch or wart like sore on or in anus or on genitals
Flat sore with a scaly crust
New sore or raised area on old scar or ulcer
Warm red module
Red sore or rough patch inside mouth
Rough scaly patch on the lip which may evolve to an open sore
Throat Cancer
Throat Cancer refers to cancer that develops in your throat or voice box.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of Throat Cancer include:
Sore throat for more than 3 weeks
Splitting blood
Coughing for more than 3 weeks
Difficulty in swallowing
Thyroid Cancer
Thyroid Cancer occurs in the cells of the thyroid.
Symptoms
Thyroid Cancer may not cause any symptoms initially. Normally detected incidentally when ultrasound of the neck is done for other reasons or as part of routine physical examination. Symptoms are noticed only when it starts growing. Some Thyroid Cancers like Anapaestic type can show aggressive growth. Signs and symptoms of Throat Cancer include:
Lump in front of the neck
Lump on either side of the neck
Change of voice
Difficulty in swallowing
Uterus Cancer
Uterus Cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the uterus..
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of Uterus Cancer include:
Pain in the Pelvis region
Bleeding after menopause
Bleeding between periods