‘Cancer’ outside of the whole zodiac thing is one of the most dreadfully frightening words there is. Anyone who hears it from a doctor or in any medical context is immediately crestfallen as if struck by the hammer of god. Anyway, not mincing words, cancer is a terrible thing and no one in their right mind would wish it on their worst enemies.
Our focus is the female body; we have tried to collate 12 signs that give away the presence of cancer in the female body but are often ignored as nothing harmful, till it’s too late of course.
Here are 12 cancer signs that women ignore.
1. Breast lumps
Lumps in the breast are often nothing serious, but if it is cancerous there would be accompanying symptoms: those are nipples turning inwards, discharges etc. If you ever see a lump, make sure to see a doctor. Do not assume it is harmless.
2. Bloating that doesn’t subside
Bloating is a part of the normal menstrual cycle. But if it doesn’t go once the cycle is over, or if the weight gain seems permanent, it can just be a sign of things like pancreatic cancer or colon cancer or even ovarian cancer. Again, see anything abnormal about your cycle and the monthly changes in your weight, get it checked.
3. Blood loss in between menses
In case you see blood loss in between your scheduled periods of menses, you might want to get it looked at. It might just be endometrial cancer.
4. Differences in nails and skin
If you see a horizontal line running through one of your toenails, it might be a sign of melanoma or skin cancer. Experts say if you see the line coming out of the nail and spreading to the cuticle of the toe, there is a high chance that it is growing and spreading.
5. Blood in your discharges
This might just be from harmless hemorrhoid. But it might also be colon cancer.
6. Abnormal swelling of lymph nodes
In most cases, it’s just a simple infection that would eventually be fought off by the body’s defense mechanisms. But it might be an omen too: there is a possibility that its lymphoma or leukemia.
7. Trouble eating or swallowing
This might be a sign of tonsil infection or throat cancer. The latter is really deadly. If you are already suffering from vomiting bouts and symptoms persist, go visit a doctor.
8. Unnatural weight loss
Colon/pancreatic cancer can cause unnatural weight loss. And it can never be a good sign if your body isn’t retaining any nutrition.
9. The burning sensation in the chest
Can be a sign of ovarian, stomach or colon cancer. If symptoms persist for more than a week, go to see a doctor.
10. Oral discoloration
This can be a sign of oral cancer. Also, this can be caused by smoking tobacco, which as we all know, causes lung cancer among other things.
11. Constant feverishness
Fevers are pretty common in people with bad immunity. But constant bouts of fevers can be a sign of leukemia.
12. A constant and irritating cough
Do not ignore this especially if you smoke or someone close to you smokes.
