Cancer caught early can often be cured with the right treatment, so persistent changes in the body should not be brushed aside, writes specialist physician Dr Nowsabah Noor in Samakal. She stresses that none of these signs means cancer for certain: ordinary infections, poor nutrition and other minor problems can cause them too.

The first sign is rapid weight loss without a reason. Losing 5 kg or more without dieting or extra exercise deserves attention; it is common in cancers of the pancreas, stomach, oesophagus and lungs. The second is a long-lasting or recurring fever, which can be an early symptom of leukaemia or lymphoma. The third is extreme tiredness that rest does not cure.

Fourth come skin changes: unusual darkening, yellowing of the skin and eyes, or marked redness. Fifth, lasting changes in bowel or bladder habits, pain when passing urine or blood in it. Sixth, a sore that does not heal in four weeks, especially in the mouth or on the tongue.

The seventh sign is unexplained bleeding: blood when coughing, in the stool, in the urine or from the breast. The eighth is a new hard lump in the breast, testicle or any soft part of the body. The ninth is persistent indigestion, heartburn or difficulty swallowing.

The tenth is a cough lasting more than three weeks or a long, unexplained change of voice, which can point to problems of the lungs, voice box or thyroid.

Her advice is to stay alert rather than afraid: if any sign lasts or gets worse, see a specialist promptly instead of waiting.

Photo: Staff Sgt. Sheila deVera / Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

Source: Samakal