The Signs of Ovarian Cancer are General, So Here's What to Look ForHelloGiggles
7 Unexpected Signs That Could Point To Blood Cancer: Don't Overlook These Symptoms
Blood cancer, a pervasive ailment, often shadows the lives of children but can strike at any age. Each stage of life brings a variant of this insidious disease. Yet, it's not just blood cancer that stirs concern; any irregularity within the bone marrow the lifeblood's factory demands vigilance. This marrow, the crucible of blood production, can malfunction at any age, leading to disorders that may eventually morph into blood cancer.
According to Dr Dinesh Pendharkar, Director- Sarvodaya Cancer Institute, Faridabad, in youth, blood cancer is prevalent. As age advances, bone marrow may falter, initially causing minor disruptions in blood production and later evolving into full-blown cancer. Hence, awareness of blood disorders from childhood through old age is crucial. The bone marrow crafts three vital components of blood: red cells, white cells, and platelets.
Suspecting blood cancer necessitates thorough investigation through rigorous blood tests and bone marrow analysis via flow cytometry, a specialised cell study. Once diagnosed, prompt treatment is imperative as many forms of blood cancer are curable.
Especially in the elderly, blood cancers often progress slowly but insidiously. Symptoms like weakness, pallor, bruising, low-grade fever, or weight loss should prompt immediate medical evaluation. A prevalent condition in older adults is myelodysplastic syndrome—a precursor to overt blood cancer requiring serious intervention.
ALSO READ: What is Ovarian cancer? Know causes, signs, symptoms, treatment and precautions of the disease
What Are The Symptoms Of Stomach Cancer By Stage?
Stomach cancer can grow for some time before causing noticeable symptoms. As the cancer grows or spreads to other parts of the body, it may cause symptoms such as bloody vomit or stool, unexplained weight loss, and more.
Stomach cancer grows from cells in the stomach. It develops slowly, and typically only causes symptoms in more advanced stages.
Read on to learn more about the potential symptoms of stomach cancer at early and advanced stages.
This article also looks at signs the cancer may have spread, ways to manage symptoms, and more.
Stomach cancer may not cause symptoms until it reaches more advanced stages. They are more likely to occur when the tumor becomes large or once the cancer spreads to other areas of the body (metastasized).
This means that most people receive a diagnosis of stomach cancer when it has reached an advanced stage. This may also be due to a lack of routine screening for stomach cancer in countries such as the United States.
Knowing about risk factors for stomach cancer may help with earlier detection.
Learn about the risk factors for stomach cancer.
Stomach cancer rarely causes symptoms in the early stages.
If they do occur, symptoms of early stage stomach cancer may include:
It is important to note that these symptoms can occur due to a wide range of conditions. It is rare that they indicate stomach cancer, but a person should still contact a doctor if they have concerns about the symptoms they are experiencing.
Learn more about the symptoms of stage 1 stomach cancer.
As stomach cancer advances, it is more likely to cause noticeable symptoms.
In addition to symptoms potentially present in earlier stages, a person may also develop symptoms such as:
Another potential sign is the development of an abdominal mass that healthcare professionals or a person can feel on examination. Lymph nodes may also present as swollen.
Infections and ulcers can cause similar issues. A person should consider seeing a healthcare professional if they develop any unusual or persistent symptoms.
A healthcare professional can help rule out different causes and diagnose stomach cancer if it is present.
Learn about stage 4 stomach cancer.
Stomach cancer that spreads, or metastasizes, may cause additional symptoms according to where the cancer spreads.
For example, if the cancer spreads to the liver, a person may develop jaundice or yellowing of the skin and eyes due to potential liver issues.
In addition to the liver, stomach cancer commonly spreads to the bones and lungs.
Stomach cancer that spreads to the bones may cause fractures or easy breaks and pain in the bones. If it spreads to the lungs, it may affect breathing.
Directly treating the cancer may help to alleviate some symptoms of stomach cancer. A person's doctor can advise on any medications that may be safe for them to take to manage pain and other symptoms.
The American Cancer Society also recommends anyone with cancer receive palliative care. This helps to take care of the emotional and mental health challenges associated with cancer.
Learn about treatment options for stomach cancer.
The following sections provide answers to some frequently asked questions.
Where is stomach cancer pain felt?Many people may feel pain and pressure in their abdomen. If the cancer spreads, they may feel pain in their bones.
Does stomach cancer spread fast?Stomach cancer is a generally slow-growing cancer. It can take a year or longer for cancer to become advanced or spread to other areas of the body.
Where is the first place stomach cancer spreads to?Stomach cancer typically spreads (metastasizes) to the liver, lungs, or bones. It may spread to other areas of the body as well.
Is stomach cancer fatal?The outcome for stomach cancer is better with early diagnosis. Once it advances, it becomes more difficult to treat.
The 5-year relative survival rates for stomach cancer are: 75% for local cancer (only in the stomach); 35% for regional cancer (spread to local tissue or lymph nodes); and 7% for metastatic stomach cancer (spread to distant organs).
Stomach cancer typically does not cause symptoms in the early stages. If symptoms do develop early, they can include appetite loss, unexplained weight loss, heartburn, nausea, and abdominal pain.
As the cancer grows or spreads, it can lead to worsening or new symptoms. Examples include bloody vomit, blood in stool, severe abdominal pain, and fluid buildup in the abdomen.
If the cancer spreads, a person may experience symptoms associated with the location to which it spreads.
It is important to contact a doctor as soon as a person has concerns about stomach cancer. Treatment is generally more successful if doctors diagnose the condition in the early stages.
The Importance Of Recognising The Early Warning Signs And Symptoms Of Bowel Cancer
What to look out for: Signs and symptoms Source: GettyThe most common symptoms of bowel cancer include a change in bowel habits such as diarrhea and constipation. Other warning signs to be on the lookout for are blood in the stool, abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, anal or rectal pain, fatigue, as well as bloating or cramping.
Although these are some of the symptoms often associated with bowel cancer, it's important to note that many people with bowel cancer experience no symptoms in the early stages of the disease.
Medical expert Dr Vivek Eranki, who has worked in emergency departments and across a broad range of medical fields, highlighted the importance of regular medical checks given symptoms can go unnoticed and may not even appear until the later stages of the disease.
"Often the symptoms are not noticeable in the early stages which is why it is important to undertake regular screening. Many people undertake colonoscopies every few years to ensure polyps are removed. The importance of full blood tests every year is essential for overall good health. This helps to identify potential health issues and also assist with the management of your health," Eranki said.
The importance of regular medical checks is crucial to ensure the early detection of bowel cancer and greater treatment outcomes. The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program aims to do just that by reducing illness and death from bowel cancer by helping detect the early signs of the disease using a free, simple test that can be done at home.
The factors that could put you at risk of developing bowel cancer Source: GettyThere are a number of risk factors that contribute to your chances of developing bowel cancer. Age seems to be the most prominent, with the disease more common in people over the age of 50.
Other factors that may play a role in the development of bowel cancer include family history, a history of developing polyps, high red meat or processed meat consumption, being overweight or obese and high alcohol consumption.
Although there is a myriad of factors that can increase the chance of developing bowel cancer, Dr Nick Musgrave, Anatomical Pathologist and Ambassador for Pathology Awareness Australia points out that "we do see an increased risk with age, which is why the screening program targets those aged 50 plus".
"Around 90 per cent of cases are diagnosed in people aged 50 plus," he said.
Prevention is key: How to reduce your risk Source: GettyAs the old adage goes, prevention is better than cure, and when it comes to preventing bowel cancer there are a number of dietary and lifestyle changes people can make to give themsleves the best chance of avoiding the disease.
Eranki states that "prevention is key" and offers a number of simple ways to reduce your risk which include reducing your consumption of red meat, stopping smoking, moving more and keeping active, drinking plenty of water, reducing alcohol intake, and undertaking regular health checks.
According to the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) Third Expert Report 2018, between 30 to 50 per cent of cancer can be prevented with a healthy lifestyle, and when combined with regular screening this number increases.
Musgrave backed up these claims, stating "all types of cancer are most treatable when detected early" and further stressed the importance of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.
"Even if you feel well and have a healthy lifestyle it's important to participate in screening. Unfortunately, not everyone is even aware of the bowel screening program. Currently, participation in the program remains below 45 per cent which is a disappointing result. I would urge people over 50 to participate in screening themselves and also to encourage their family and friends to do so. It might seem like an uncomfortable topic but you could save someone's life," he said.
"The reason that this is so important is that a bowel cancer that is diagnosed early has a very good chance of being cured. Unfortunately, cancer that is diagnosed late and that has spread to other organs is only cured in a small percentage of cases. So diagnosing bowel cancer early is critical."
The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, to which Musgrave refers, aims to reduce death and illness from bowel cancer by detecting the early signs of the disease.
The free test kit is sent to all Australians between the age of 50 and 74, every 2 years. The simple test can be performed in the comfort of your own home and can be sent directly to the pathologist so they can detect any blood in your stool sample.
The test kit includes clear instructions on how to perform the screening which involves collecting 2 tiny stool samples from 2 separate bowel movements.
IMPORTANT LEGAL INFO This article is of a general nature and FYI only, because it doesn't take into account your personal health requirements or existing medical conditions. That means it's not personalised health advice and shouldn't be relied upon as if it is. Before making a health-related decision, you should work out if the info is appropriate for your situation and get professional medical advice.
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