Cancer Warning: Three Common General Symptoms That Could Affect the Whole Body

Cancer

is a deadly and debilitating disease that has a cure if diagnosed early. However, there are many kinds of cancers that do not show any signs until the last stage, after which it becomes impossible to treat them. Experts have now warned that three symptoms can affect your whole body, which could signal cancer. These “general” signs could be easily dismissed or mistaken for something else.

Early cancer warning signs you must not ignore

There are more than 200 different types of cancers that affect the body. While according to experts, mostly the symptoms depend on where the disease is, there are a few general signs that can be a wake-up call for you to see a doctor and get further investigations done.

Very heavy night sweats or fever

Night sweats that give you drenched clothes and bedding can be a significant sign of certain cancers - especially blood cancers like lymphoma and leukemia. However, this symptom is often accompanied by unexplained weight loss and extreme fatigue. Doctors say sweating is your body’s normal method for regulating its temperature. But when night sweats occur, the body’s thermostat gets confusing messages. Those who get chronic sweating at night typically report waking with damp bedclothes or sheets, having an increased heart rate, and chills.

Fatigue

Persistent and extreme fatigue never gets relieved by rest and can be an early sign of cancer, mostly because cancer cells consume the body's energy or disrupt normal function. It also causes anemia or inflammation, but fatigue is also a very common side effect of cancer treatments. While many things cause tiredness, unexplained fatigue lasting weeks, especially with other symptoms like weight loss, night sweats, or fever, does warrant a doctor's visit to determine the cause.

Unexplained weight loss

Losing weight rapidly without even trying can be something odd, which you should not take lightly. Unexplained weight loss can be an early sign of lung, stomach, pancreas, or esophagus cancers. According to doctors, cancer leads to weight loss by stealing nutrients, increasing metabolism, and affecting appetite or digestion. Even the tumors use a lot of your energy, increasing the calories you burn at rest. Also, one of the reasons behind weight loss is that the cancers in your stomach, esophagus, or pancreas can make it hard to eat, swallow, or absorb nutrients. While it is a big and important warning sign, it is not a definitive diagnosis till you get a proper investigation done.

Other common signs of cancer

Apart from these three important ones, there are a few other general symptoms of cancer, which you should not ignore.

• Lumps or swelling, especially in areas like your neck, armpit, groin, or breasts
• Bleeding or unusual discharge, which could be in your poop, urine, or phlegm
• Constant pain that doesn’t go away despite taking medicines
• Changes in your skin, including the birth of new moles or sores that do not heal
• Persistent constipation or diarrhoea
• Sores or patches in your mouth and tongue that do not heal
• A persistent cough or hoarse voice.
• Difficulty swallowing food or a feeling that food is getting stuck