In most people, a cancerous tumor does not show symptoms that would solely indicate the disease. There are a lot of specific symptoms of oncological diseases - even more non-specific ones (such as malaise). Young women, for example, are more likely to ignore symptoms that may indicate cancer. Women often do not pay due attention to the symptoms of cancer, which indicate the onset of the disease. Meanwhile, untimely access to a doctor is a serious barrier to effective treatment oncological diseases.

As a rule, when we get sick, we rush to find “bad” symptoms in our body, think about the worst. How common are cancers and at what age? Symptoms of oncological diseases are extremely important in the process of detecting pathology. Common symptoms of oncological diseases include sudden weight loss, high fever, weakness and fatigue, soreness and changes in the quality of the skin. Of course, it should be borne in mind that the presence of any of the listed symptoms does not mean 100% that a person is suffering from cancer. However, the detection of any of these manifestations should give impetus to the passage of a thorough medical examination. Women over twenty-five years old are recommended to regularly examine the cervix for cancer, and over fifty years old - mammary glands. Breast cancer ranks first among all malignant diseases in women.

Common symptoms of oncology (cancer) in women and men

Common main symptoms that signal cancer in women and men are:

• symptom of "unsuccessful treatment" (ulcerative lesions of the stomach and duodenum, inflammation of the stomach, pharynx, Bladder, pneumonia) when the patient long time tries to cure the disease, but there is no improvement;
• syndrome of "small signs" (increased fatigue, decreased performance, decrease or loss of interest in the outside world, discomfort, strong and short-term changes in body weight), incomprehensible discharge (blood, mucus, and others), persistent dysfunction of any organ, paraneoplastic syndromes.
• “plus tissue” symptom, that is, the growth of a volumetric formation. The “plus tissue” symptom is detected during examination and palpation. It is possible to detect asymmetry and deformation of a part of the body, palpate the tumor and assess its size, consistency, mobility, relationship with surrounding tissues, pain. Particular attention should be paid to the lymph nodes. Be sure to inspect and feel them. With lesions, they are enlarged, rounded, sometimes bumpy, dense, soldered to the surrounding tissues, limited mobility.

Symptom of oncological disease - sudden weight loss

Most people suffering from some type of cancer, in the early stages of the development of the disease, begin to lose weight dramatically. The first symptom of cancer can be weight loss of more than five kilograms in a short time.

Symptoms of cancer - heat body and fever

A high body temperature can be observed in oncological diseases of a fairly high prevalence. A feverish condition overtakes cancer patients with anti-cancer therapy, which affects the body's immune forces, increasing susceptibility to the disease.

Symptoms of cancer - weakness and fatigue

Weakness and fatigue can be considered one of the most important symptoms of cancer. Fatigue can occur in the first stages of cancer development, when the progression of the disease is accompanied by blood loss, for example, in colon cancer.

Cancer symptom - soreness

Soreness can serve as an early manifestation of malignant neoplasms, for example, bone tissue.

A symptom of cancer - a change in the color and quality of the skin

Tumors of the skin and certain types of oncology of the internal organs can cause the development of dermatological signs of cancer, for example, darkening of the skin, yellowness of the skin, redness and scabies.

In addition to the general ones, there are also specific symptoms of oncological diseases that are characteristic of any particular type of cancer. Again, this does not mean at all that if you find any specific symptom from those listed, you should immediately think about an oncological disease. All symptoms that occur should be reported to the doctor.

Disorders of the stool and disruption of the bladder

Stool disorders can manifest themselves in persistent constipation or, conversely, in diarrhea. In addition, the amount of feces may change, their quality characteristics. When defecating, feces can go with blood impurities. When emptying the bladder, pain may be noted, urination may become frequent or less frequent. All these changes should be known to the doctor to build the correct clinical picture.

Bleeding or unusual discharge

Causeless bleeding can open both in the early stages of cancer development and in its advanced cases. Blood impurities in the sputum when coughing may indicate oncology of the lung tissue. Blood in the stool may indicate oncology of the colon or rectum. Cancer of the uterus or cervix can lead to vaginal bleeding. Oncology of the bladder can be expressed in blood impurities in the urine.

Digestive disorders and swallowing difficulties

These symptoms can be observed in various pathologies of a non-oncological nature, however, their combination may indicate oncology of the esophagus, pharynx, or gastrointestinal tract.

Symptoms of oncological diseases (cancer) in women

signs oncology at women. If a woman sees a doctor early, a cure for cancer is quite possible - modern medicine this has been proven time and time again. However, our women are afraid or embarrassed to go to the doctor with seemingly trifling complaints and make a serious mistake, wasting precious time. We will talk about the main symptoms of cancer in the weak half of humanity. All women are aware of the existence of various oncological diseases. Unfortunately, in our time, such diseases occupy one of the main places in the structure of mortality.

1. Bleeding

One of the most alarming symptoms for women should be bleeding after menopause- that is, a year after the cessation of menstruation. Periods cannot return if they have already stopped. Do not think that this is normal - consult a doctor to clarify the circumstances.

Another serious symptom should be spotting after intercourse, intermenstrual bleeding or too heavy menstruation for 10-12 days, the appearance of pain during menstruation - this may be a sign of hormonal changes or cancer of the cervix or appendages.

The initial stages of cervical cancer are not difficult to diagnose, a smear is taken from the cervical canal for the study of special cells (cytology) and cancer markers.

To determine ovarian cancer, the volume of studies is more, ultrasound and blood tests for special markers specific to ovarian cancer are necessary.

2. Allocations

One of the signs of some types of endometrial cancer (the inner wall of the uterus), along with bleeding, is the appearance of unusual watery discharge with or without ichor from the genital tract. This symptom should be given special attention - sometimes, starting as a sign of infection, chronic inflammation passes into the oncogenic stage.

This type of cancer, with timely diagnosis, is treated surgically and can be completely cured of the disease.

3. Breast changes

Breast cancer is currently the number one oncological diseases at women which is the cause of their death. Every woman from 25-30 years old needs to know about self-examination of the breast. This is a completely painless procedure, which is recommended once a month at home in front of a mirror. With regular carrying out of this procedure on the same day of the cycle, you will thoroughly examine the tissue of the gland, which will allow you to notice a change in the breast or nipple in time. Most breast diseases in women can only be diagnosed in the laboratory (blood test for tumor markers).

Signs for concern should be any external differences compared to previous examinations:

• the appearance of a network of blood vessels on the skin, age spots or areas of "orange peel",
• change in the shape of the breast or nipple,
• the appearance of seals in the chest, which are not painful.
• discoloration of the areola of the nipple (if you are not pregnant and not lactating) and its peeling,
• discharge from the nipple, in the absence of lactation, especially if they are bloody or whitish.
• the appearance of dimples on the skin,
• an increase in the temperature of the chest or its separate area.

Also, “dimples” may appear on the skin of the chest, which are symptoms of cancer. These symptoms are a reason to see a doctor immediately.

4. Discomfort

One of the first symptoms of genital cancer in women is itching and discomfort in the area of ​​the labia, irritation or skin change not associated with infections or allergies. These changes are usually long and progressive - therefore, at the slightest discomfort, go to the doctor for an examination.

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Often, a cancerous tumor does not show any specific symptoms. Therefore, most people learn about a terrible diagnosis only when it is already very difficult, and sometimes completely impossible, to cope with the disease. And there is also such a category of citizens who, with any ailment, think about the worst and try to detect signs of cancer in themselves.

Perhaps excessive vigilance is also useless, but if you really notice something is wrong in your condition, you should undergo a medical examination.

Cancer: signs and symptoms

Diseases of this kind manifest themselves in different ways. But there are common signs of oncology in children, women and men. In general, three groups of symptoms can be distinguished:

• Unsuccessful treatment of diseases. When you carry out enhanced therapy for any pathologies, whether it be a stomach ulcer, inflammation of the bladder or pneumonia, and there is no improvement for a long time, you should be wary. Perhaps this indicates the presence of a cancerous lesion.
• small manifestations. Reduced performance, constant feeling of discomfort, fatigue, decreased interest in the surrounding reality, unreasonable weight loss - all this can speak of oncology.
• Tissue growth. If during a visual examination or palpation you find a deformation or asymmetry of some part of the body, you should be wary. Perhaps such a tumor is dangerous.

10 signs of cancer

Now we will list the first symptoms of cancer, with the appearance of which it is necessary to consult a doctor.

1. Sudden weight loss. Many people at an early stage of the development of the disease begin to lose weight rapidly. If you lose more than five kilograms in a short time, visit your doctor immediately.
2. Increased temperature and fever. This symptom usually appears when the cancer has already spread widely. But it is he who can be the first call.
3. Fatigue and weakness. These are perhaps the most important first signs of cancer, characteristic of absolutely any type of cancer. However, many simply ignore them.
4. Pain in the bones. This symptom may indicate malignant neoplasms in the bone tissue.
5. Change in the quality and color of the skin cover. Dermatological signs, such as darkening, redness, yellowness of the skin, itching, and others, may indicate the presence of skin cancer or oncology of internal organs.
6. Changes in the size, color, thickness, shape of moles, as well as the occurrence of wounds or ulcers that are not amenable to therapy. Moles can transform into malignant tumors, so do not ignore such manifestations.
7. Violations of the functioning of the bladder and disorders of the stool. You should consult a specialist if you suffer from persistent constipation or, on the contrary, diarrhea. Changes such as pain during emptying, more frequent or rare urination should also alert.
8. Constant headache. This symptom may indicate the presence of a brain tumor.
9. Unusual discharge, bleeding. Blood impurities in the stool, urine, vaginal bleeding in women - all this can be a manifestation of cancer.
10. Persistent cough, sore throat, hoarseness, and trouble swallowing and indigestion. If you find blood clots in your sputum when you cough, you should immediately visit a doctor, because you may have lung tissue cancer. Swallowing problems and digestive disorders are often not signs of cancer, but if they occur together, you can suspect a cancer of the pharynx, esophagus, or gastrointestinal tract.

Symptoms of different types of cancer

Of course, in addition to general manifestations, there are specific signs of oncological diseases that are characteristic only for one or another variety. And still, even if you find any characteristic symptom, you should not immediately think that you have cancer. First visit a specialist, and then draw conclusions.

Stomach cancer

In the early stages of the disease, the signs are inaccurate and scarce. Often, not only patients, but the doctors themselves write off the symptoms that have appeared on gastritis. In this case, everything is limited to the appointment of medications, and a complete examination is not carried out. And yet, specialists who listen attentively to the complaints of patients sometimes catch the first signs of an oncological disease. These include:

• decreased ability to work, unreasonable weakness;
• sustained unmotivated decrease in appetite or its complete loss, up to an aversion to food;
• discomfort in the stomach: not getting pleasure from eating tasty food, feeling of heaviness even after taking a small amount of food, soreness in the epigastric zone, sometimes nausea and vomiting;
• progressive weight loss, accompanied by blanching of the skin;
• depression: alienation, loss of interest in work and life in general, apathy.

The described first signs of oncology can manifest themselves both against the background of a previous stomach disease (for example, an ulcer), and against the background of absolute health. Only when a malignant tumor becomes widespread, vivid symptoms appear: persistent vomiting, intense pain radiating to the back, severe weight loss, severe weakness, earthy skin color.

breast cancer

The first signs of oncology in women in this case are retraction and flattening of the nipple and bloody discharge from it. Pain is not a diagnostic symptom. With a breast tumor, pain may be completely absent, but with mastopathy, on the contrary, it can be pronounced.

Depending on what form the cancer has, the signs and symptoms will vary. So, with a mastitis-like form of the disease, the mammary gland greatly increases, swells and hurts. The skin becomes hot to the touch. The erysipelatous form is characterized by the sudden appearance of redness on the skin of the chest, as well as a significant increase in temperature. Shell oncology is manifested by a bumpy thickening of the skin. A kind of shell is formed, covering part chest and sometimes the whole of it.

Rectal cancer

As already mentioned, usually the signs of oncological diseases in the early stages are not particularly pronounced. Colon cancer is no exception. Symptoms that can be noticed: dull pain during bowel movements at the time of the passage of feces, mucus and blood in the stool, subsequently a ribbon-like stool. Such manifestations are often mistaken for signs of hemorrhoids. However, there is a difference: with hemorrhoids, blood in the feces usually appears at the beginning of a bowel movement, and with rectal cancer, at the end. At a later stage, constipation is added to the listed symptoms, followed by diarrhea, frequent urges to defecation, allocation of fetid purulent-bloody masses.

Skin cancer

This type of oncology can also have different forms: ulcerative, nodular, infiltrative. However, often the first signs of skin cancer, regardless of form, are the same. Dense painless nodules of a waxy pinkish-yellowish color appear on the body. Gradually they grow. Very rarely there are forms with sluggish growth, which for many years do not show visible changes. But there are also such cases.

Lung cancer

Depending on where the primary tumor occurs, in the lung tissue or in the bronchus, the first signs of oncology will vary. In the case of central cancer (cancer of the bronchus), a hacking dry cough develops first, later sputum appears, often it has blood impurities. For this form of the disease, the unreasonable occurrence of pneumonitis (inflammation of the lung) is very characteristic, accompanied by an increase in temperature, increased cough, general weakness, in some cases chest pains. Peripheral cancer, which originates in the lung tissue, is almost asymptomatic at the initial stage and is often detected during a preventive x-ray examination.

A brain tumor

Signs of oncological diseases of the brain are numerous, and they cannot be called specific. It is noteworthy that many neoplasms do not manifest themselves at all and are most often found only after death, at autopsy. This applies, for example, to a pituitary tumor. It should also be borne in mind that not all formations are malignant - benign tumors often appear in the same way as cancerous ones. The only way to check the nature of the symptoms present is to undergo an examination.

Symptoms in these types of oncology are associated with the pressure of the tumor on the brain and, in connection with this, a violation of its work. The signs are similar in both the primary and metastatic (when the neoplasm penetrates into other parts of the brain) stages and are characterized by weakness, headache, absent-mindedness, the appearance of convulsions and spasms, and difficulty in motor processes. Nausea and vomiting are also possible (especially in the morning), blurred vision, weakening of intellectual activity associated with impaired memory and concentration, a gradual decrease in mental activity, changes emotional state, difficulty of speech processes. These symptoms, as a rule, do not appear immediately, so for a long time the disease may go unnoticed.

Finally

We have listed the signs of the main oncological diseases, but, of course, we have not touched on all types of cancer. There are a lot of them, and the symptoms in each case will be different. For example, the main manifestations of uterine cancer are bleeding and discharge in the form of whites from the vagina. The main symptom of esophageal cancer is pain when swallowing food, and the most common symptom of bladder cancer is blood in the urine. Do not be negligent about your health and immediately consult a doctor at the slightest suspicion of a terrible disease.

Instruction

Diagnosis of the first manifestations of cancer is complicated by the non-specific manifestations. Depending on the location, size and nature of the tumor formation, various symptoms may occur, which are sometimes characteristic of other diseases. It is this factor that complicates the timely detection of the disease. As the tumor grows, the cancer begins to put pressure on the surrounding organs, capillaries, and nerve endings. Pressure can cause some symptoms, which are determined by the location of the tumor. For example, if the damaged cells are located in a certain part of the brain, even the smallest tumor can cause severe symptoms. However, often the affected area is located in such a way that it does not cause any manifestations until the development of metastases.

If the tumor is located in the pancreas, it can cause frequent pain in the back or abdomen. When located close to the bile ducts, the neoplasm can cause a violation of the outflow of bile, which can also provoke the appearance of not only pain, but also a noticeable yellowing of the skin.

In most cases, cancer can cause persistent fever, extreme fatigue, and severe weight loss. These signs are caused by changes in the body that occur under the influence of the tumor. Cancer cells can deplete the body, taking away part of its energy reserves and disrupting the absorption of food. Cancer also affects the immune system, and disorders of the immune system can cause a similar reaction.

Affected cells release substances that are toxic to the body into the bloodstream. This can lead to symptoms that are often unrelated to the disease itself. For example, patients may suffer veins in their legs. Some types of cancer create substances that increase the level of calcium in the blood, which causes problems with concentration, nervous system, tremor, weakness and even dizziness. For some forms of lung cancer, a characteristic early sign is a cough, which, however, may appear at a later stage.

Prolonged severe fatigue, which cannot be eliminated with sleep, is most often the most obvious primary sign of cancer. This symptom is especially common, as well as some forms of cancer of the stomach or rectum. Another characteristic symptom is prolonged pain, which is characteristic of bone and testicular cancer in the early stages. A headache that does not decrease even after taking various medications may be the result of a brain tumor. Back pain is caused by cancer of the rectum, colon, and ovaries. However, in some cases, cancer causes pain only at stages 2-3 in the presence of metastases.

Long-term constipation or, conversely, diarrhea, as well as changes in the amount of feces excreted, can cause bowel cancer. Pain when urinating, blood in the urine, increased or decreased urge to urinate may be a sign of a bladder or prostate tumor. White patches on the tongue or mouth may indicate the presence of leukoplakia, which can turn into cancer. oral cavity.

A cancerous tumor is both its own and alien to the body, this is its cunning. Its own, as it consists of cells that are ordinary at first glance, which initially do not cause harm, but only constantly multiply. Alien, since having reached a certain size, it begins to show aggression towards surrounding tissues and organs: to grow through them, scatter daughter foci of cancer - metastases around the body, release biologically active substances that can rearrange metabolic processes in favor of the tumor and to the detriment of the body .

The tumor grows so rapidly that blood vessels fail to grow with it. Then food cancer cells in the center of the focus is disturbed, and they begin to die and collapse, releasing toxins that poison the body - cause intoxication.

Most of the early symptoms of cancer are associated with these changes, which appear only when the tumor has reached a decent size. Therefore, the question arises whether it is really possible to detect cancer at an early stage or is it a utopia? On the pages of popular magazines, you can often find articles about 4 alarming "bells" - signs of a possible oncology. Should they be taken seriously?

Cancer "quartet": a nightmare for a hypochondriac

The most common early signs of cancer are:

• weight loss for no apparent reason;
• fatigue, weakness, loss of strength;
• pale skin, hair loss, brittle nails;
• small fluctuations in body temperature.

All these signs are indeed characteristic of malignant tumors, but also of many other diseases and conditions, which, in some cases, do not harm not only life, but also health.

For example, the first symptom is fast weight loss, as well as the second - weakness, fatigue and decreased performance - many of us experience during the period of time pressure at work, when liters of coffee and other stimulating techniques are used in an effort to survive until the holidays. The same thing often occurs in spring or autumn, when there is a sharp lack of energy for good health. sunlight and heat, especially in the northern cities of our country. Hypovitaminosis, stress add their contribution to the treasury of bad mood and take away kilograms.

It is quite difficult to distinguish cancer cachexia - this is what weight loss in malignant neoplasms is called - from other types of weight loss, but it has the following signs:

• loss of body weight by 5% of the original in 6 months (for a person weighing 80 kg, this is about 4 kg in six months);
• 2% weight loss if baseline BMI was less than or equal to 20.

A characteristic sign of cancer cachexia is the destruction of muscle tissue, which can occur even with the preservation of the fat layer. This inevitably leads to muscle weakness, a change in body contours in places where adipose tissue is usually not very pronounced. For example, shoulders and arms are significantly thinner. In addition, cancer cachexia is usually accompanied by a decrease in appetite up to anorexia.

The third group of signs from the disturbing "quartet" - pale skin, hair loss and brittle nails, combined with weakness and lethargy are classic symptoms of anemia - a decrease in red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood. This condition is indeed characteristic of an advanced stage of cancer, when the composition of the blood changes as a result of intoxication, metastases to the bone marrow or constant bleeding from the tumor. However, during this period, as a rule, there are already more obvious signs of oncology. Anemia itself is common, for example, in healthy young women with heavy periods, may be a congenital feature or the result of other chronic diseases.

The last sign - the change in body temperature is the most unstable. Among oncological diseases, temperature reaction is most often accompanied by blood diseases: leukemia and lymphoma. However, even in a healthy person, the temperature fluctuates throughout the day, depending on physical activity, the state of the nervous system and the amount of hormones in the blood. An increase in body temperature up to 37.5 ° C occurs, for example, during a strong excitement. Small fluctuations in temperature are typical for early dates pregnancy, increased thyroid function, etc.

Thus, the "quartet" of symptoms described above is not specific to cancer and does not necessarily mean that you have cancer. But if these symptoms bother you for a long time, and your health does not improve within a few weeks, this is a reason to consult a doctor for additional diagnostics.

In fact, there are not so many malignant tumors that can be detected at a very early stage, especially without the help of special research methods. As a rule, these are types of cancer that are located on the surface of the body and are accessible to the eye of the person himself or the doctor. These tumors can be seen even before they cause symptoms.

Types of cancer visible to the eye

Types of malignant tumors that are visible to the eye are called visual in medicine. It is believed that these are the very tumors that need to be detected at the earliest stage. And this is quite possible. Visually or by touch, you can determine atypical changes in the skin and mucous membranes when the tumor is just beginning to develop. It is at this stage that her treatment is most effective.

Skin cancer, including melanoma- ranks first in our country in the structure of the incidence of malignant tumors in the population, regardless of gender. At the same time, melanoma is considered one of the most “evil” tumors, because it metastasizes to other organs of the body very early. Among other skin cancers, there are relatively benign ones that are well treated and rarely recur (appear again).

Early signs of skin cancer may include:

• the appearance on the surface of the body of an unusual spot, which gradually increases in size, protrudes above the level of the skin or seems dense to the touch;
• the appearance of a long-term non-healing sore;
• nodules or bumps on the skin that have an atypical color (lighter, darker than the skin, shiny surface, etc.).

These formations, as a rule, do not bother. Sometimes itching and tingling may occur. Read more about the early signs of melanoma. If any skin changes appear that are suspicious of cancer, consult a dermatologist. In addition, it is advisable to visit an ophthalmologist once a year, since melanoma in rare cases can be located on the retina. This type of tumor can only be seen by a doctor.

To exclude even earlier stages of breast cancer, there is a screening examination - mammography. This is an x-ray examination of the mammary glands on a special apparatus, which is recommended for all women over 40-45 years old once every 2 years. For these categories of citizens, mammography is carried out free of charge, within the framework of compulsory medical insurance, in the direction of a gynecologist, therapist, surgeon or mammologist. However, in practice, getting a free mammogram is difficult, so you have to use the services of private clinics.

Cancer of the tongue, lips, throat, mouth- rare types of tumors that are most common in older people with a long history of smoking, especially those who often drink alcohol. The early stages of these neoplasms can be suspected by characteristic features:

• the appearance on the mucous membrane of the mouth, cheeks, lips, tongue of white or red spots, which may have a smooth or bumpy surface;
• long-term non-healing sores in the mouth;
• causeless hoarseness or other change in the timbre of the voice, hoarseness.

During a gynecological examination, the doctor can also detect cancer of the vagina, vulva, uterine body, and ovaries. The initial stages of these cancers are asymptomatic. Over time, signs such as an increase in the abdomen, swelling of the legs, pain in the pelvic area or during bowel movements, bloody discharge from the genital tract, delayed menstruation, etc., may appear.

Genital cancer in men, in particular, prostate cancer ranks 6th in the total oncological incidence in Russia. Prostate cancer develops extremely slowly, causes symptoms late and therefore reveals itself already in the later stages, although during a rectal examination by a doctor, initial changes in the prostate gland can also be detected. For this, it is advisable for men over 40-45 years old to visit a urologist at least once every 2 years.

In addition to the examination, previously men were recommended to donate blood annually for prostate-specific antigen (PSA analysis) - a marker of cancer. prostate. However, now the need for such a study in the framework of screening programs is being questioned, since the analysis has a low specificity and can give a positive result in many other diseases and conditions.

Rectal cancer- in 7th place in terms of the incidence of malignant neoplasms in our country. Men are more often affected. In the early stages, rectal cancer is asymptomatic, but it can be detected by a doctor during a rectal examination. Therefore, due to the age-related pattern of rectal cancer development, it is recommended that men over 50 years of age undergo a digital rectal examination once a year. It is usually combined with an examination by a urologist. Women are rectally examined by a gynecologist. In addition, both men and women can visit a proctologist for research.

There is another way to screen for the diagnosis of rectal cancer, as well as colon cancer (occurs 1.6% more often than rectal, but is not detected during a digital examination) - a fecal occult blood test. This is a simple study, for which you must first collect a small amount of feces in a special container and take it to the laboratory. Once a year, stool analysis for healthy people is performed free of charge, according to compulsory health insurance. However, the technology used to conduct the study, and hence its results, may differ.

So, the cheapest and most common is the study using guaiac and benzidine samples. Before the study, it is necessary to exclude from the diet meat products, iron preparations, apples, peppers, green onion, beans, spinach and other foods containing iron compounds. Otherwise, the analysis may give a false positive result.

Twice as expensive is the analysis of feces for occult blood using the immunochemical method. This test only reacts to hemoglobin of human origin, so it is less likely to be wrong, but is usually only available as part of paid services.

If the stool test for occult blood is positive, there is a need for additional diagnostics, since the cause can be not only cancer, but also many other diseases. Therefore, you should have a free - more complex examination of the intestine using an endoscope, which is inserted through anus and carried up the intestinal tube. With the help of an endoscope, the doctor can assess the condition of the intestinal mucosa by eye, find a suspicious focus of cells and take a sample from it - a biopsy. Colonoscopy allows you to accurately determine the source of bleeding.

Cancer to look for: the first signs

Unfortunately, many types of cancer are for the time being safely hidden in the body, and it is not possible to detect them by sight or by specific symptoms. But there are instrumental and laboratory diagnostic methods that help to identify the tumor.

Cancer of the trachea, bronchi and lungs ranks third in frequency among other malignant neoplasms in our country and in most cases is associated with active or passive smoking. In addition, those people who often come into contact with carcinogenic substances, such as phenol fumes or asbestos dust, are at risk.

It is believed that fluorography or X-ray examination of the lungs, which are carried out annually as part of early detection tuberculosis should not be considered as screening for lung cancer. This is due to the fact that the resolution of an x-ray, and even more so fluorography, is insufficient to detect the initial stages of cancer.

However, if you undergo a routine fluorographic examination or x-ray of the lungs once every 1-2 years, you can be sure that the study will detect lung cancer, albeit not at an early stage, but even before symptoms appear and the tumor becomes inoperable. It is especially important to undergo these studies for people at risk.

Signs of respiratory cancer may include:

• dry cough;
• chest pain;
• the appearance of blood in the sputum;
• dyspnea.

Unfortunately, these symptoms occur already when the tumor has reached a decent size. Read more about diagnosing and preventing lung cancer.

Stomach cancer- the fourth most common tumor in Russia. This tumor is also difficult to detect, since it most often develops against the background of a stomach disease that has already existed for many years, for example, chronic gastritis or peptic ulcer, the symptoms of which a person gets used to and may not always notice a change in their nature. Meanwhile, signs of stomach cancer can be:

• loss of appetite;
• recurring nausea, vomiting;
• pain in the abdomen of a aching, dull character without a clear connection with food intake;
• increased heartburn, belching;
• feeling of heaviness in the abdomen;
• weight loss;
• black stools or "coffee grounds" vomiting when bleeding from a tumor.

Sometimes stomach cancer “grows” for a long time asymptomatically, without causing pain and indigestion. For sure, it is possible to confirm or exclude the presence of a tumor in the stomach only with the help of gastroscopy (FGS) with a biopsy. However, this study is not pleasant, expensive and is not recommended in our country for cancer screening, that is, for examining healthy people. But people who are at risk for stomach cancer need to undergo FGS once a year.

Blood cancer- a malignant tumor that, along with adults, affects children. Sometimes the disease is found after a random blood test done for some other disease or as part of a routine examination. That is why it is advisable to donate blood from a finger and biochemical analysis blood from a vein at least once a year. In addition to objective criteria (analysis data), symptoms of blood cancer can be:

• causeless prolonged increase in body temperature;
• sweating, especially at night;
• severe weakness;
• pale skin, easy bruising even from slight mechanical impact;
• bleeding gums, nose;
• pain in bones and joints.

If these symptoms appear, it is advisable to contact a therapist or pediatrician (for children). If the diagnosis is confirmed, the doctor will refer you to a hematologist, a specialist who diagnoses and treats blood diseases, including cancer.

Brain cancer- a rare tumor that can have very different symptoms, depending on the location of the malignant tissue. The most common symptoms are:

• headaches, which are poorly relieved by conventional analgesics, may intensify during physical activity;
• impaired coordination of movement, dizziness, tinnitus;
• episodes of loss of consciousness;
• double vision or a sharp deterioration in vision, loss of visual fields;
• nausea and vomiting that do not bring relief and are not associated with dyspepsia;
• numbness or unusual sensations (goosebumps, sensation of electric current, tingling) in the arms or legs.

If these symptoms appear, you need to contact a neurologist. In most cases, these signs will have more benign causes. Do not give in to despondency in advance, as the likelihood of cancer is extremely small. To exclude a malignant tumor, it will be necessary to undergo a magnetic tomography of the brain (MRI).

Cancerophobia is the other side of the coin

In Russia, malignant diseases occupy the second place in the structure of mortality and account for about 15% of all deaths (most people die from cardiovascular diseases - more than 54%). At the same time, modern medical technologies make it possible to successfully cure the early stages of cancer. Therefore, the detection of tumors at the initial stage of their development is the most important task not only in our country, but throughout the world. However, the desire to recognize cancer by some special features at a very early stage, at times, causes more harm than good.

So, overly impressionable people often find themselves in the trap of their own suspiciousness. They begin to delve into themselves, looking for subtle symptoms, lose sleep and peace. Any, even a slight deviation from the norm in the analyzes or well-being, is perceived by them as evidence of the presence of a tumor. And if the doctor convinces of the opposite, then he loses authority, and the person is left alone with his suspicions.

In addition, the introduction of ultra-precise diagnostics leads to the fact that doctors find tumors that, perhaps, would never harm human health. Some methods of early diagnosis give many false positive results and find a problem where there is none. As a result, a healthy person who decides to “check up just in case” is subjected to unnecessary, traumatic examination, and sometimes even treatment.

To prevent this from happening, one should not succumb to cancerophobia and look for cancer symptoms in oneself. You need to know which signs really need attention, and which ones you can just close your eyes and sleep peacefully. After all, the body is a complex system with huge reserves. Most of the diseases, including cancer, our body destroys on its own, without outside help. And it is not known what our attempts to intervene will lead to where the mechanisms of work are debugged by evolution to perfection.

All materials on the site have been checked by doctors. However, even the most reliable article does not allow taking into account all the features of the disease in a particular person. Therefore, the information posted on our website cannot replace a visit to the doctor, but only complements it. Articles are prepared for informational purposes and are advisory in nature. If symptoms appear, please consult a doctor.

In the general structure of diseases, oncology ranks second. Cancer tumors can affect any tissue of the human body. The success of cancer treatment is largely determined by the stage at which the diagnosis was made. Therefore, you should be aware of the signs of cancer, which will help to identify the disease at the earliest manifestations.

We recommend reading:

33 symptoms that will help to suspect oncology

1. 
   - is one of the signs or pancreas. For a long time, pain can be insignificant, a person and doctors most often associate it with,. However, it is better to undergo an additional examination - FGDS or, which will help clarify the diagnosis.
2. Dramatic weight loss- observed in tumors of almost any localization, but can be considered the leading sign of intestinal oncology. Not to be confused with weight loss through diet or exercise - with oncology, body weight is reduced even if the patient does not make any effort to do so.
3. Change in skin color, most often jaundice, characteristic of tumors of the pancreas and liver. It occurs due to difficulties in the outflow of bile, an increase in the concentration of bile pigments in the blood, often accompanied by severe itching. In addition to the skin, the sclera and tongue acquire an icteric color.
4. Cough and difficulty breathing leading signs of lung cancer. At an early stage of cancer, a dry, unobtrusive cough is noted, and as the disease progresses, it becomes hacking, shortness of breath joins.
5. Difficulty swallowing- The sensation of a foreign body that prevents the swallowing of food and water is a typical sign of cancer of the pharynx or esophagus. As the tumor grows, the patient may stop swallowing altogether.
6. Heartburn- due to the ingress of gastric juice from the stomach into the esophagus (gastroesophageal reflux). It is characteristic not only for gastritis, but also for cancer of the stomach and duodenum.
   
7. Swelling of the face (or upper half of the body). Typical for central, when a growing tumor compresses the blood and lymphatic vessels, thereby causing swelling.
8. - most tumors cause a reaction of regional lymph nodes. At later stages, metastases enter these nodes, which also contributes to an increase in their size.
9. Increased bleeding Bruising and bruising for no good reason can be a sign of blood cancer. With tumors of the liver, the blood coagulates worse.
10. Fatigue- chronic intoxication causes a feeling of general malaise, severe weakness. These symptoms are especially pronounced when the internal organs are damaged.
11. The appearance of blood in the stool and bleeding from the anus after the act of defecation- serious symptoms. There are also benign diseases with similar symptoms, but they can only be distinguished from cancer with the help of rectoscopy or colonoscopy.
12. 
    Digestive disorders- constipation and diarrhea, mostly chronic, often appear with bowel cancer.
13. Difficulties with urination- delay, increase indicate problems with the prostate and bladder.
14. - characteristic of cystitis, or sexually transmitted diseases. With tumors of the prostate in men, this symptom is also noted at the base of the penis.
15. Blood in urine or semen- can appear with cancer of the urinary system: kidneys, bladder, prostate. In women, blood in the urine or spotting from the genital tract, not associated with menstruation, are signs of oncology of the female genital organs.
16. Decreased libido: a sign of prostate cancer in men or ovarian and uterine cancer in women.
17. Swelling of the scrotum and penis May indicate testicular or penile cancer.
18. Back pain syndrome. Of course, the main cause of back pain is osteochondrosis or inflammatory diseases spine. However, in some cases, pain in the back, poorly relieved by pills or simple painkillers, may be a sign of a metastatic lesion of the vertebrae.
19. 
    Headache. Sometimes it is the only sign of a brain tumor, especially if the pain is one-sided and difficult to treat.
20. Discharge from the nipples- can appear with breast cancer, which occurs not only in women, but also in men. Simultaneously with the discharge of the patient, soreness of the chest may disturb.
21. Strange moles and age spots irregular shape is a form of melanoma or basal cell skin cancer.
    
22. Fever- prolonged, sluggish hyperthermia (fever) without other signs of infection is observed in 30% of patients with oncology.
23. 
    Seals in the chest in women are signs of breast cancer. It is especially necessary to be wary of the combination of seals with discharge from the nipples. In this case, you need to urgently contact a mammologist or a surgeon.
24. Pathological changes in the appendages of the skin - nails and hair: dull hair with a tendency to fall out, as well as dystrophic changes in the nails (delamination, brittleness) indicate an active tumor process, in which the skin, nails and hair simply do not have enough nutrients.
25. Dysfunctional bleeding- spotting from the vagina, not associated with menstruation, is noted in uterine cancer, and in ovarian cancer.
26. fainting- one of the signs of a brain tumor. With even greater certainty about a brain tumor, a combination of fainting with convulsions allows us to speak.
27. Swelling in the limbs- a bump on the lower leg, thigh or shoulder can occur with malignant bone tumors (osteosarcomas). Very often, pathological fractures are also noted - even a slight blow to the bone can lead to its fracture.
28. Memory disorders. In young people, a decrease in intelligence, forgetfulness and absent-mindedness can be observed with brain tumors.
29. Decreased appetite- observed in most cancers. By the way, pathological weight loss in cancer patients is also associated with a lack of appetite.
30. sweating- a sharp change in the usual moisture content of the skin is observed in a number of neuroendocrine tumors.
    
31. tides- a feeling of heat in the face or throughout the body can be not only in women during menopause, but also in some tumors of the endocrine system.
32. mood swings- a sharp change in the emotional background is typical for head tumors and for some hormone-producing tumors in women.
33. Sharp decrease in vision, loss of fields - can occur with tumors of the optic nerve and some structures of the central nervous system.

Important: if you experience any of the above symptoms, you should consult a doctor. It is possible that there is absolutely nothing to fear, and these symptoms are just manifestations of another more harmless disease. But neglecting this advice is often too costly. Malignant processes, which were not paid attention to in time, end in death! For more information about early symptoms cancer, watch this video review:

Signs of oncology are very fond of disguising themselves as symptoms of other diseases, so it is possible to exclude the diagnosis of cancer only after a thorough examination. It is not for nothing that foreign experts recommend that people over the age of 30 undergo an annual preventive examination.

Gudkov Roman, resuscitator

Discussion (44 )

Hello, woman, 31 years old, has children, stage 2 varicose veins. Worried about constant fatigue, pain in the legs (due to varicose veins), joints, back, neck, head. Lack of mood. I have a sedentary job, I don't do sports, I don't have any bad habits. Who to contact and what could be wrong?

1. Hello! Please tell me how the best way cancer can be detected. What can I pass or go through something to see the stomach is there or not. My father had kidney cancer and had it removed. Now I have a panic fear that cancer may also develop somewhere. I have chondrosis and neuralgia happens. And for often not pleasant sensations in the stomach, as if it were hot and the back was on fire. On the right, in the area, there is almost no pleasant feeling, as if something is pulling. Recently had an ultrasound abdominal cavity Together with the kidneys, everything was fine. I had a head MRI a year ago and a neck MRI half a year ago. Everything is fine. Now I would like to see inside the abdomen and chest or what tests to pass so that I don’t get extra sores in my head. Please write what to do and where to start. Thank you in advance.

2. Hello! Age 28, never gave birth. I have no neoplasms visible to the eye, of the symptoms that disturb me, there are constant ailments, it is not clear what caused, increased fatigue, low performance, lethargy, prolonged deep sleep. Periodically, pains appear in the back, in the hands, lying in one position for about 5 minutes, the hands go numb, this was not the case before, she turned to an orthopedist, the diagnosis was scoliosis and osteochondrosis. I also wanted to note that the resulting wounds, cuts began to heal much more slowly, I'm not sure if this is normal. Grandmother and mother have cancer in the family (lung cancer, breast cancer). Could you tell me what examination is needed to rule out this disease?!

3. Hello. After pregnancy (1.5 years have already passed), the nails have become very brittle, lately fatigue has often manifested itself, I don’t feel any pain, my memory has deteriorated a lot - I can talk, and then it just flies out of my head what the conversation was about, it’s hard to remember what happened in the previous days, there is a decrease in vision for several minutes, after a computer, a strong decrease in libido. Previously, they put the VSD (in cervical region, the spine is slightly rotated because of this, blood is poorly supplied to the upper part of the head. Half a year ago, they found a big erosion. Immunity has become weak, although I take vitamins, it can be difficult to breathe. What is the reason? To whom to go? I'm 20.

4. Good day. I suffer from intercostal neuralgia, we cannot find its main cause. (there were no injuries and serious illnesses, there were no serious changes or inflammations on the x-ray, blood tests were within the normal range, there is no tomography in the city) The treatment gives relief for a while, but the pains return again and again, and the attacks are ever shorter . Does it make sense to take on tumor markers? Or what specialist’s advice should I get (do synningia, tests?) (by the way, the next of kin has cancer (aunt), diabetes(mother), vascular disease (grandmother died of a stroke))

5. Good afternoon. The child had all the lymph nodes inflamed + a pimple appeared on his head, soon he turned into a sore that began to rot. A dermatologist cannot make a diagnosis within half a year. From the head I pull out the rods of pus. What could it be?

6. Good afternoon. My mother had sinusitis, they removed a polyp in the nose area, some foreign substance was found in the head.
   Feeling very bad lately. Vomiting, dizziness, can't stand on his feet. Constant headaches. My grandmother (mother's mother) had stomach cancer. She died unfortunately. My mother and I went around all the doctors, passed the tests, but no one detected oncology. what to do how to be

7. Hello, I am 17 years old, a few days ago there was a seal on the neck in the form of a ball, the size of Walnut. I have a sore throat, it is difficult to swallow, I feel chills, I feel constant fatigue. Today I noticed a small spot on my shoulder. Brown which hurts when you press it. Prompt, please, what is it can be and what probability of what is it a melonoma. I am very afraid of oncology, heredity is normal, there are no bad habits. Thank you very much in advance.

8. Hello! My father has stage 4 inoperable colon cancer and is 80 years old. Skin metastatic manifestations appeared. Pale aid is being provided. Pain is relieved with morphine. But more worried skin manifestation, because it interferes with movement and causes great discomfort. Antiseptic dressings are changed. I wanted to ask you about ichthyol ointment. Is it possible to apply it in this case. On the Internet, nothing is written about the use of ichthyolka for skin metastases. Maybe everything is ambiguous, but he has nothing to lose, maybe try? Thank you!

9. Good afternoon Please tell me, otherwise the doctors say that if you are not particularly worried, it will pass by itself. The temperature has been 37-37.2 for about 3 months, I had a general blood test (neutrophils 40, lymphocytes 44, monocytes 12.6, leukocytes on the verge of 4.76), cytomegano antibodies - negative, HIV - negative, Epstein Barr - negative. In principle, I don’t feel any discomfort, it happens occasionally in the stomach. Tell me what could be, or where to take tests?

10. Hello, please tell me, my mother found metastases in the liver, but the focus itself was not found. She had pains in the area of ​​the liver, but now she doesn’t, but there was also some kind of bulge on the right side under the shoulder blade, very strong, pain, like drilling. Maybe she doesn't have cancer? The symptoms all point to cancer. Poor appetite, yellow skin, weight loss, vomiting.

11. Hello, please tell me what it could be. Hair falls out profusely for about six months, acne on the body and on the face does not go away.

12. Hello dear doctor. Tell me what my condition can be with: my temperature has been high for more than a year, 37.3-37.4. Several times I passed urine and blood tests, biochemistry, everything is fine. I had an MRI of the brain, no abnormalities, everything is normal, only there is a subarachnoid cyst, they said it's not scary. In the summer, amid stress, I began to have urinary retention, that is, there is urine inside, the bubble is already bursting, and I can’t get it out, as if there is a lock. It lasted a week, at that time I again passed urine and blood tests, everything was normal, they also did an ultrasound of the bladder, kidneys and everything - everything is fine, well, after a week it went away, I began to urinate normally. But in December, I suffered the strongest stress, and since January, the 5th month begins - I can’t urinate, urine can linger for a day, I’m already suffocating, it’s full, but I can’t urinate. And for 5 months now I have been holding my breath, the air seems to be squeezing down, and only then urine is excreted a little bit. Without holding her breath, she will not come out in any way. Here's the problem. I no longer have the strength to hold my breath. And desires in general frequent, each 15 20 minutes. I did a second ultrasound of all the lower organs, everything is perfect. I had a course of treatment with a neurologist, she treated me with pills and a dropper for a month. But not the slightest change.
    Tell me, please, what is the reason for this? More precisely, I understand that the nerves, but how can I start to urinate normally? What to do? What do you advise? Please help, I'm out of energy :(

13. Hello, for the third week, every day after lunch, the body temperature rises to 37.5-38 degrees, it all started with severe throbbing headaches in the back of the head, which lasted 2-3 days. Blood and urine tests are good. During the second week I drank cogacyl, the temperature went away, but after 3-4 days it returned again. He did an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity, the spleen is enlarged, there is a suspicion of pancreatitis, the liver is normal, the kidneys too. Blood tests for hepatitis and HIV are negative. I have a suspicion of herpes simplex virus, but there is nothing on the skin. What to do, what can be?