How to detect cancer most likely to attack you ;
1. COLORECTAL
In people under 50, bleeding is probably from haemorrhoids, diverticulosis, colitis or an abnormal blood vessel, blood in the stool. Never ignore it, even if it's a one-time occurrence. It could be a precancerous polyp leaking blood and bleeding is the only early warning you'll receive. In more than half of cases, there is no sign, says Dr Greg Enders, a gastroenterologist at Fox Chase Cancer Center. A colonoscopy allows the doctor to check for large and small problems and remove polyps in the same procedure.
2. LUNG
Cough that won't go away or one that brings up blood is often evidence the cancer is there. Another is chest pain that's always present and not influenced by movement, says Dr Ezra Cohen, a medical oncologist at University of Chicago Medical Center. On a chest X-ray, both pneumonia and a tumor look white. The pneumonia will resolve, but you'll need another X-ray four to six weeks later.
3. PROSTATE
A digital rectal exam can tell if your prostate is hard or irregular and cancer is suspected with a high PSA (prostate specific antigen) level. Urination problems frequency, urgency, slow stream, incomplete emptying, can be related to prostate enlargement or narrowing of the urethra. A biopsy if the PSA is high or its rate of change is high. But a spiked score can also be a sign of infection, which should be treated with antibiotics for four weeks. The cancer grows slowly, waiting isn't dangerous, says Dr Christopher Saigal, a urological oncologist at UCLA.
4. BLADDER
It may be a sign of kidney stones if you are younger than 60, blood in the urine should always be checked. Most bladder cancer only affects the lining. If it is caught early, it can be beaten, says Dr Brian Rini, an oncologist at the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute. An overactive bladder or painful urination is more often a sign of an infection. A scope through the penis to look at the bladder and a urine test that detects cancer cells.
5. LYMPHOMA
Painless, swollen lymph nodes in your neck, armpit or groin. Nodes swell with infections, but if they don't subside in a week, have them checked. Also, unexplained weight loss over one or two months, pain in the node area after drinking alcohol or generalised itching with swelling (without rash) could be cause for concern, says Cleveland Clinic oncologist Dr John Sweetenham. Nodes can swell because of an infection. A blood test can occasionally pick up something, but a biopsy of the node is more thorough.
6. MELANOMA
A spot that jumps out at you as irregular or large, or one that has recently changed either in size, colour or contour or that comes with symptoms such as itching, pain or bleeding, says Dr Hensin Tsao, a dermatologist at Massachusetts General Hospital. Seborrheic keratosis, a brownish, crusty formation that looks like it's stuck to the skin, it's just a begin growth.
1. COLORECTAL
In people under 50, bleeding is probably from haemorrhoids, diverticulosis, colitis or an abnormal blood vessel, blood in the stool. Never ignore it, even if it's a one-time occurrence. It could be a precancerous polyp leaking blood and bleeding is the only early warning you'll receive. In more than half of cases, there is no sign, says Dr Greg Enders, a gastroenterologist at Fox Chase Cancer Center. A colonoscopy allows the doctor to check for large and small problems and remove polyps in the same procedure.
2. LUNG
Cough that won't go away or one that brings up blood is often evidence the cancer is there. Another is chest pain that's always present and not influenced by movement, says Dr Ezra Cohen, a medical oncologist at University of Chicago Medical Center. On a chest X-ray, both pneumonia and a tumor look white. The pneumonia will resolve, but you'll need another X-ray four to six weeks later.
3. PROSTATE
A digital rectal exam can tell if your prostate is hard or irregular and cancer is suspected with a high PSA (prostate specific antigen) level. Urination problems frequency, urgency, slow stream, incomplete emptying, can be related to prostate enlargement or narrowing of the urethra. A biopsy if the PSA is high or its rate of change is high. But a spiked score can also be a sign of infection, which should be treated with antibiotics for four weeks. The cancer grows slowly, waiting isn't dangerous, says Dr Christopher Saigal, a urological oncologist at UCLA.
4. BLADDER
It may be a sign of kidney stones if you are younger than 60, blood in the urine should always be checked. Most bladder cancer only affects the lining. If it is caught early, it can be beaten, says Dr Brian Rini, an oncologist at the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute. An overactive bladder or painful urination is more often a sign of an infection. A scope through the penis to look at the bladder and a urine test that detects cancer cells.
5. LYMPHOMA
Painless, swollen lymph nodes in your neck, armpit or groin. Nodes swell with infections, but if they don't subside in a week, have them checked. Also, unexplained weight loss over one or two months, pain in the node area after drinking alcohol or generalised itching with swelling (without rash) could be cause for concern, says Cleveland Clinic oncologist Dr John Sweetenham. Nodes can swell because of an infection. A blood test can occasionally pick up something, but a biopsy of the node is more thorough.
6. MELANOMA
A spot that jumps out at you as irregular or large, or one that has recently changed either in size, colour or contour or that comes with symptoms such as itching, pain or bleeding, says Dr Hensin Tsao, a dermatologist at Massachusetts General Hospital. Seborrheic keratosis, a brownish, crusty formation that looks like it's stuck to the skin, it's just a begin growth.
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