Cancer Symptoms and Effects

Cancer is a multi-symptomatic disease. In this sense, its effects can be multiple and vary from one patient to another. In fact, the majority of cancers are completely asymptomatic at first. When finally emerge, symptoms are not typical to the disease. Cancer effects are often minor and common to many other diseases at the genesis. Only specific diagnostic procedures may lead to the detection of the cancer. In general, the characteristics of cancer symptoms depend on the organ affected and its stage.

For instance, lung cancer may lead to the development of:

shortness of breath
difficulty swallowing
alteration of general condition
chest pain and cough
loss of appetite and weight loss
spitting blood
Swollen lymph nodes in neck or at the level of the clavicles.

In the majority of women, breast cancer usually manifests by:

presence of a lump in the breast
palpable swollen lymph nodes in the armpits
Physiological and functional changes in the breast: nipple discharge, presence of red patch on the breast, abnormal skin peeling, breast pain, etc.

Colon cancer can go undetected for a long period. However, left untreated, the cancer can spread into the liver, lymph nodes and other parts of the body, leading to the development of:

New onset of abdominal pain
Disorder or change in bowel movement
An alteration of general condition
An abdominal tumor or liver metastasis
Bowel obstruction or intestinal perforation (complication).

Unlike many other cancers, prostate cancer has a slow growth, and may take years before producing symptoms. In fact, some men die with prostate cancer without being aware of it. When symptoms finally occur, they may include:

Frequent urination
Difficulty in retaining and/or starting urine
Low or discontinuous urine output
Pain or burning sensation on urination
Blood in the urine
Painful ejaculation
Dull pain in lower back, the hips or upper thighs.

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