CANCER ALERT!

A Must Read For Women and Men; EARLY SIGNS OF CANCER!
A lot of us don't want to hear about cancer! As a result we live in denial but the bitter truth is that denial will not cure us. It’s important to focus and deal with our fear, so that we can conquer that which threatens us. Below are key signs of cancer that ought not to be ignored. Please read and tell it to all!


No. 1: Unexplained Weight Loss
Many women would be delighted to lose weight without trying. But unexplained weight loss -- say 10 pounds in a month without an increase in exercise or a decrease in food intake -- should be checked out; unexplained weight loss is cancer unless proven not. It could, of course, turn out to be another condition, such as an overactive thyroid.
Expect your doctor to run tests to check the thyroid and perhaps order a CT scan of different organs. The doctor needs to rule out the possibilities, one by one,.
No. 2: Bloating
Bloating is so common that many women just live with it. But it could point to ovarian cancer. Other symptoms of ovarian cancer include abdominal pain or pelvic pain, feeling full quickly -- even when you haven't eaten much -- and urinary problems, such as having an urgent need to go to the bathroom.
If the bloating occurs almost every day and persists for more than a few weeks, you should consult your physician. Expect your doctor to take a careful history and order a CT scan and blood tests, among others.
No. 3: Breast Changes
Most women know their breasts well, even if they don't do regular self-exams, and know to be on the lookout for lumps. But that's not the only breast symptom that could point to cancer. Redness and thickening of the skin on the breast, which could indicate a very rare but aggressive form of breast cancer, inflammatory breast cancer, also needs to be examined, Linden says. If you have a rash that persists over weeks, you have to get it evaluated.
No. 4: Breast Changes continued...
Likewise, if the look of a nipple changes, or if you notice discharge (and aren’t breast feeding), see your doctor. If it's outgoing normally and turns in, she says, that's not a good sign. If your nipples are inverted chronically, no big deal. It's the change in appearance that could be a worrisome symptom.
If you have breast changes, expect your doctor to take a careful history, examine the breast, and order tests such as a mammogram, ultrasound, MRI, and perhaps a biopsy.

No. 5: Between-Period Bleeding or Other Unusual Bleeding
Pre menopausal women tend to ignore between-period bleeding. They also tend to ignore bleeding from the GI tract, mistakenly thinking it is from their period. But between-period bleeding, especially if you are typically regular, bears checking out, she says. So does bleeding after menopause, as it could be a symptom of endometrial cancer. GI bleeding could be a symptom of colo rectal cancer.

Think about what's normal for you, says Debbie Saslow, PhD, director of breast and gynecologic cancer at the American Cancer Society in Atlanta. "If a woman never spots [between periods] and she spots, it's abnormal for her. For someone else, it might not be."

No. 6: Between-Period Bleeding or Other Unusual Bleeding continued...
Endometrial cancer is a common gynecologic cancer. At least three-quarters who get it have some abnormal bleeding as an early sign.
Your doctor will take a careful history and, depending on the timing of the bleeding and other symptoms, probably order an ultrasound or biopsy.

No. 7: Skin Changes
Most of us know to look for any changes in moles -- a well-known sign of skin cancer. But we should also watch for changes in skin pigmentation.
If you suddenly develop bleeding on your skin or excessive scaling, that should be checked, too, she says. It's difficult to say how long is too long to observe skin changes before you go to the doctor, but most experts say not longer than several weeks.

No. 8: Difficulty Swallowing
If you have difficulty swallowing, you may have already changed your diet so chewing isn't so difficult, perhaps turning to soups or liquid foods such as protein shakes.  Expect your doctor to take a careful history and order tests such as a chest X-ray or exams of the GI tract.

No. 9: Blood in the Wrong Place
If you notice blood in your urine or your stool, don’t assume it's from a hemorrhoid,It could be colon cancer.
Expect your doctor to ask questions and perhaps order testing such as a colonoscopy, an exam of the colon to look for cancer.
Seeing blood in the toilet bowl may actually be from the vagina if a woman is menstruating. But if not, it should be checked to rule out bladder or kidney cancer.
Coughing up blood should be evaluated, too. One occasion of blood in the wrong place may not point to anything, but if it happens more than once, go see your doctor.
No. 10: Gnawing Abdominal Pain and Depression
Any woman who's got a pain in the abdomen and is feeling depressed needs a checkup, Researchers have found a link between depression and pancreatic cancer, but it's a poorly understood connection.
No. 11: Indigestion
Women who have been pregnant may remember the indigestion that occurred as they gained weight. But indigestion for no apparent reason may be a red flag.It could be an early clue to cancer of the esophagus, stomach, or throat.
Expect your doctor to take a careful history and ask questions about the indigestion before deciding which tests to order, if any.

No. 12: Mouth Changes
Smokers should be especially alert for any white patches inside the mouth or white spots on the tongue, according to the American Cancer Society. Both can point to a precancerous condition called leukoplakia that can progress to oral cancer. Ask your dentist or doctor to take a look and decide what should be done next.
No. 13: Pain
As people age they seem to complain more of various aches and pains, but pain, as vague as it may be, can also be an early symptom of some cancers, although most pain complaints are not from cancer. Pain that persists and is unexplained needs to be checked out. Expect your physician to take a careful history, and based on that information decide what further testing, if any, is needed.

No. 14: Changes in the Lymph Nodes
If you notice a lump or swelling in the lymph nodes under your armpit or in your neck -- or anywhere else -- it could be worrisome. If you have a lymph node that gets progressively larger, and it's [been] longer than a month, see a doctor. Your doctor will examine you and figure out any associated issues (such as infection) that could explain the lymph node enlargement. If there are none, your doctor will typically order a biopsy.


Thank you for reading! Ask any questions on health and get reliable and honest answers,(PRIVACY IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE).


REMEMBER THE WEALTH OF HEALTH IS LIKE NONE ELSE!