What are the early signs of cancer?

[Englishbird]

Obviously it depends on the type of cancer but what are the early signs.  What would make someone go to the doctors that they would check for cancer?

[woofgang]

There is no one one set of signs, but here are some that SOMETIMES might be significant

unintended weight loss

loss of appetite

A mole that bleeds or changes size texture or colour

a wound or skin ulcer that doesn't heal

a lump

unexplained bruising

a newly inverted nipple

change of bowel habit

blood in faeces

unexplained tarry faeces

unexplained bleeding from any other orifice

unexplained menstrual changes

Prostate symptoms

This list is not exhaustive and also these can be symptoms of other things (and often are)

[butter1]

agree with woofgang but also my mum's first sign that she had cancer was a dry tickly cough...She had it for a month constantly before she went to her GP.

[andyjevs]

Extreme and prolonged tiredness can also be a symptom. A colleague of mine had bowel cancer and his symptoms were very tired and aching legs. he also became out of breath very quickly. They treated him for anemia for ages before finding the problem (he live to tell the tale too)

[Oleanda]

Someone I know kept getting pins and needles in his arm, he went to doc. who did a blood test for anaemia. Turned out he was amaemic because he had bowel cancer.

[Ward-Minter]

I know you are a woman but regarding male testicular cancer, I once had a scare. I had a pain in my balls that gradually worsened over about three weeks. Naturally, I was worried but was in a Serbian war zone at the time and couldn't do much about it. As soon as I finally entered a doctors in old Blighty he put my mind at ease straight away by saying if it hurts it isn't the big C.

It was the only time in my life I was thankful for having a pain down there.

I must admit before this scare I never really "checked" myself, now I can't leave them alone!!!

My point is for men, if it hurts it is not cancer. So please check up regularly. My pain turned out to be an ingrowing hair that went septic. Quick freeze up, a pair of tweezers and a dose of anti-biotics did the trick. Sorry to be so graphic and a little wayward off the point.