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Women's bodies are always changing. Sometimes changes that seem normal can be signs of cancer, though. It is best to pay attention to your body so you can notice something different.
Here is a list of what you should watch for:
Photo: herald.ng
1. Breast Changes: Most breast lumps aren't cancer, but your doctor should always check them. Let her know about these changes, too:
Skin dimpling or puckering
2. Between-Period Bleeding: If you’re still getting periods, tell your doctor if you’re spotting between them. Bleeding that’s not a part of your usual monthly cycle can have many causes, but your doctor will want to rule out endometrial cancer(cancer of the lining of your uterus).
Bleeding after menopause is never normal and should be checked right away.
3: Skin Changes: A change in the size, shape, or color of a mole or other spot is a common sign of skin cancer. See your doctor for a thorough exam and perhaps a biopsy.
4. Blood in Your Pee or Stool: Talk to your doctor if you're bleeding from a part of your body that normally doesn't, especially if the bleeding lasts more than a day or two. Bloody stool is often from hemorrhoids, but it can also be a symptom of colon cancer. Bloody urine is usually the first sign of cancer of the bladder or kidneys.
5. Changes in Lymph Nodes: Lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped glands around the body. Most changes in them come from common infections. But some cancers, including leukemia and lymphoma, can also cause lymph nodes to swell
It's a good idea to see your doctor if you have a lump or swelling anywhere in your body that lasts a month or more.
6. Trouble Swallowing: Occasional trouble swallowing is nothing to worry about. But when it happens often, especially with vomiting or weight loss, your doctor may want to check you for throat or stomach cancer.
7. Weight Loss Without Trying: Most women wish extra pounds would magically melt away. But losing 10 pounds or more without a change in your diet or exercise habits could signal a problem.
Most unintended weight loss is not cancer. It's often caused by stress or your thyroid, but it can be a sign of pancreatic cancer. Stomach and lung cancers are also possible.
Your doctor may ask for a lot of tests to look for a problem, including blood tests and imaging tests, like a CT scan.
8. Heartburn: Too much food, alcohol, or stress (or all three) can cause seriousheartburn. Meyers suggests that you change your diet for a week or two to see if your symptoms get better.
If that doesn't help, talk to your doctor. Heartburn that doesn't go away or gets worse could mean cancer of the stomach, throat, or ovaries.
9. Mouth Changes: If you smoke, watch for white or bright-red patches inside your mouth or on your lips. Both can signal oral cancer. Ask your doctor or dentist about tests and treatment.
10. Fever: A fever that doesn’t go away and can't be explained could mean leukemia or another blood cancer. Your doctor should get the details of your medical history and give you a physical exam to check for the cause.
11. Fatigue: A lot of women are tired because they lead hectic lives. But extreme tiredness that won’t go away isn’t normal.
Talk to your doctor if your fatigue never gets better or if you have other symptoms, like blood in your stool. Your doctor will ask for your complete medical history and give you blood tests.
12. Cough: Most coughs go away on their own in 3 to 4 weeks. Don't ignore one that lasts longer than that, especially if you smoke or are short of breath. If you cough up blood, go to the doctor. A cough is the most common symptom of lung cancer.
13. Pain: Cancer doesn’t cause most aches. But ongoing pain can signal bone,brain, or other cancers. Ask your doctor about any unexplained aches that last a month or longer.
14. Belly Pain and Depression: It’s rare, but belly pain plus depression can be a sign of pancreatic cancer.
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WebMD contributed to this article
Here is a list of what you should watch for:
Photo: herald.ng
1. Breast Changes: Most breast lumps aren't cancer, but your doctor should always check them. Let her know about these changes, too:
Skin dimpling or puckering
- Nipples that turn inward
- Nipple discharge
- Redness or scaling of your nipple or breast skin
2. Between-Period Bleeding: If you’re still getting periods, tell your doctor if you’re spotting between them. Bleeding that’s not a part of your usual monthly cycle can have many causes, but your doctor will want to rule out endometrial cancer(cancer of the lining of your uterus).
Bleeding after menopause is never normal and should be checked right away.
3: Skin Changes: A change in the size, shape, or color of a mole or other spot is a common sign of skin cancer. See your doctor for a thorough exam and perhaps a biopsy.
4. Blood in Your Pee or Stool: Talk to your doctor if you're bleeding from a part of your body that normally doesn't, especially if the bleeding lasts more than a day or two. Bloody stool is often from hemorrhoids, but it can also be a symptom of colon cancer. Bloody urine is usually the first sign of cancer of the bladder or kidneys.
5. Changes in Lymph Nodes: Lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped glands around the body. Most changes in them come from common infections. But some cancers, including leukemia and lymphoma, can also cause lymph nodes to swell
It's a good idea to see your doctor if you have a lump or swelling anywhere in your body that lasts a month or more.
6. Trouble Swallowing: Occasional trouble swallowing is nothing to worry about. But when it happens often, especially with vomiting or weight loss, your doctor may want to check you for throat or stomach cancer.
7. Weight Loss Without Trying: Most women wish extra pounds would magically melt away. But losing 10 pounds or more without a change in your diet or exercise habits could signal a problem.
Most unintended weight loss is not cancer. It's often caused by stress or your thyroid, but it can be a sign of pancreatic cancer. Stomach and lung cancers are also possible.
Your doctor may ask for a lot of tests to look for a problem, including blood tests and imaging tests, like a CT scan.
8. Heartburn: Too much food, alcohol, or stress (or all three) can cause seriousheartburn. Meyers suggests that you change your diet for a week or two to see if your symptoms get better.
If that doesn't help, talk to your doctor. Heartburn that doesn't go away or gets worse could mean cancer of the stomach, throat, or ovaries.
9. Mouth Changes: If you smoke, watch for white or bright-red patches inside your mouth or on your lips. Both can signal oral cancer. Ask your doctor or dentist about tests and treatment.
10. Fever: A fever that doesn’t go away and can't be explained could mean leukemia or another blood cancer. Your doctor should get the details of your medical history and give you a physical exam to check for the cause.
11. Fatigue: A lot of women are tired because they lead hectic lives. But extreme tiredness that won’t go away isn’t normal.
Talk to your doctor if your fatigue never gets better or if you have other symptoms, like blood in your stool. Your doctor will ask for your complete medical history and give you blood tests.
12. Cough: Most coughs go away on their own in 3 to 4 weeks. Don't ignore one that lasts longer than that, especially if you smoke or are short of breath. If you cough up blood, go to the doctor. A cough is the most common symptom of lung cancer.
13. Pain: Cancer doesn’t cause most aches. But ongoing pain can signal bone,brain, or other cancers. Ask your doctor about any unexplained aches that last a month or longer.
14. Belly Pain and Depression: It’s rare, but belly pain plus depression can be a sign of pancreatic cancer.
--
WebMD contributed to this article