[April Bradford]

What are the earliest signs of cancer? Most people experienced this symptom FIRST…​

Cancer is a serious disease that can generally be effectively treated if detected early. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of cancer. If you experience any of the symptoms mentioned in this article, it is important to consult with your doctor to ensure there is nothing sinister at play.

So, what are the symptoms that you need to look out for? Here are five of them, according to the advice of numerous healthcare professionals.

Urinary changes

It may be an early sign of prostate cancer if you have any troubles with your urinary system. Ladies, we’re not excluded from this symptom either as it could be a sign of bladder cancer. It’s important to have regular check-ups so that you can detect these kinds of problems early.

Some of the early signs of cancer in the urinary system can include:
A change in your stream
Frequent urination
Stopping and starting
Weakened stream
The urge to urinate at night
Any pain or burning during urination (even if it’s slight)

Noticeable changes in your bathroom habits can be a symptom of more serious illnesses. Image Credit: Pexels​

Fatigue

Dr Marc Romano stated that fatigue can often be a symptom of cancer, particularly blood cancers such as lymphoma, leukaemia, and myeloma.

He said: ‘Tumours can affect the lymphatic system.’

‘Cancers that start in the lymphatic system may cause side effects like night sweats, fatigue, and weight loss.’

‘These side effects can also irritate other systems, leading to other symptoms like fevers, chills, and urination at night.’

Breast lumps

Doctors urge patients to not ignore their breast lumps.

'A breast lump will feel like a distinct mass that’s noticeably more solid than the rest of your breast tissue. Lumps can range in size — from the size of a pea to larger than a golf ball — and may or may not be movable,' shared Dr Jitesh Joshi.

'On the other hand, normal breast tissue will feel like a consistent fibrous mesh throughout your breast.'

Lumps can be found regardless of your gender so everyone should be on the lookout.

Lower abdominal pain

If you feel a dull ache or pain in the groin, it could be a sign of testicular cancer.

'These symptoms are caused either directly by testicular cancer in the scrotum, or as cancer spreads from the testicle and goes to the lymph nodes in the pelvis and abdomen,' Rodwell Mabaera explained.

'This can sometimes be masked and be dismissed due to recent injury or perceived injury. Following an obvious injury, any pain that does not respond to rest or over-the-counter treatments within 2 weeks should be evaluated by a doctor.'

Multiple other illnesses also present in this way such as bladder, bowel and ovarian cancer.

Weight loss

If you lose weight unexpectedly and it’s not because of a healthy diet or exercise regime, it may be a sign of something serious.

'In studies that examined the causes of unintentional weight loss, between 5 to 37 per cent of patients were eventually diagnosed with cancer,' said Dr Richard Levine.

Sudden weight loss can be a sign of something more sinister. Image Credit: Pexels​

'But it is not always indicative of cancer, and there are many other causes.'

If you suspect something is off, don’t hesitate to inform your doctor. It is always better to be on the safe side and get it checked out.

Stay safe, members, and if you’re in any doubt at all - we encourage you to book an appointment with your GP. As always, we need to point out that we’re not doctors, and nothing in this article should be construed as medical advice, so if you have concerns, talk to a medical professional.

If you’re wondering where you can start in order to detect the early signs of cancer, we recommend checking out this video: