

  The Health & Healthcare Blog  

Friday, July 8, 2016

Itchy Skin and 9 Other Symptoms That Could Mean Cancer

Many types of cancer are curable if they are found early. However, people often mistake symptoms as being anything but cancer and fail to seek medical attention until it is too late. Learning how to identify symptoms can literally save your life. Here are 10.

  1. Itchy skin: Cancer can cause blood flow to increase in the area of a cancerous growth. This can cause the skin to feel tight and itchy, or appear red, feel warm, and actually change color.
  2. Lump beneath the skin: Hard lumps beneath the surface of the skin should never be ignored. It could be a sign of a tumor, especially in the breast, testicle, armpit, throat, abdomen, and skin.
  3. Trouble swallowing: Difficulty swallowing, loss of appetite, and tummy trouble could mean that cancer is interfering with your digestive process.
  4. Bumps on tongue/mouth: Bumps should always be a cause for concern, especially inside the mouth, gums or throat. Bumps that are white in color should especially be a cause for concern.
  5. Sores that don't heal: Healing is a natural process, but when a sore does not heal, it could mean that cancer is growing inside your body and preventing the healing process from occurring properly.
  6. Bleeding: Loss of blood, other than a menstrual cycle, should cause concern, especially when it is coming from the uterus, nipple, or in the urine or stool.
  7. Changes in bowel movements: Obvious changes in bowel movements that last more than 2 days should be a cause for concern. Blood in the stool, for example, could mean colon cancer.
  8. Changes in urination: Any changes in urine flow, color, smell, presence of foam or blood should be checked immediately by a doctor. It could mean cancer is growing in your body.
  9. Coughing: A persistent cough could be a sign of lung, esophagus, throat and even stomach cancer.
  10. Changes in your voice: Changes in pitch or tone in your voice can be a sign of cancer of the larynx.

There may be other reasons for these symptoms, but why take a chance? If you are experiencing any of these 10 symptoms, please check with a doctor to make sure they are not signs of cancer growing inside you.
