Reviewer: Hui Wang (Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital)
You may be eating a healthy diet and exercising all the time, but that doesn’t mean you can ignore regular checkups.
Many men are like this, ignoring some of the early signs of cancer because they think they are in great shape and have no problems.
One of the best ways to fight cancer is to catch it early, which is often easy to treat. However, the early symptoms of many cancers are fairly subtle.
Although some symptoms are typical, others are not easily recognized, and male siblings should be alerted to any of the following 15 symptoms that may be early signs of cancer .
1. Urination problems
Many men experience some urination symptoms as they age. For example:
Urine frequently, especially at night;
urgency, dripping urine;
Difficulty urinating, weak urine flow;
A burning pain when urinating.
These symptoms should be noted if present, as an enlarged prostate usually causes them, but it can also be prostate cancer.
If you have the above symptoms, you should go to the hospital immediately. Doctors usually ask patients to have prostate cancer tests and prostate specific antigen (PSA) tests to initially determine whether they are prostate cancer.
Image source: Zhanku Hailuo
2. Testicular changes
If you notice swelling, heaviness, or other changes in your testicles, see your doctor right away.
Testicular cancer, unlike prostate cancer, can grow rapidly in a short period of time. After the visit, the doctor will perform a physical examination, blood test and scrotal ultrasound to confirm the diagnosis.
3. Hematuria and blood in stool
Hematuria is an early symptom of bladder cancer and kidney cancer, and blood in the stool is an early symptom of colon cancer. Even if everything else is normal, see a doctor if you have hematuria or blood in the stool.
Although hemorrhoids or a urinary tract infection can cause similar symptoms, it’s important to treat the problem as soon as it’s discovered.
4. Skin change
See your doctor as soon as possible when a mole or other spot on your skin changes in size, shape, or color.
A new or unusual-looking spot on the skin could be skin cancer. A biopsy may be needed after seeing your doctor, where your doctor will take a small piece of skin for testing. Once diagnosed with skin cancer, it must be treated as soon as possible.
5. Persistent lymphadenopathy
Swelling of lymph nodes and bean-shaped bumps of small glands in the neck, armpits, or other areas are warning signs of a problem in the body.
Usually swollen lymph nodes are caused by a sore throat or a cold, but some cancers can also cause these symptoms.
If the swollen lymph nodes persist for more than 2 to 4 weeks, attention should be paid to it, and it is necessary to go to the hospital for examination in time.
6. Long-term dysphagia
Occasional difficulty swallowing is normal, but if it persists, along with weight loss and vomiting, it may be a sign of throat or stomach cancer and requires immediate medical attention.
After your visit, your doctor will do a throat exam and a barium x-ray. During a barium contrast X-ray you will need to drink a special fluid to make sure the throat is visible on the X-ray.
7. Severe heartburn
Heartburn or heartburn can be relieved in most cases by adjusting diet, drinking habits, and stress.
If none of these methods work, it’s time to see a doctor for further testing.
Persistent and worsening heartburn is most likely caused by cancer of the stomach or throat. Heartburn can also trigger a condition called Barrett’s esophagus, which is usually caused by stomach acid breaking down the lining of the esophagus. Although the disease is very rare, it can easily develop into throat cancer.
Image source: Zhanku Hailuo
8. MouthCavity change
If you smoke or chew tobacco, you have a higher risk of oral cancer. Watch for white, red, gray, or yellow patches on the lips and mouth, as well as crater-shaped canker sores. If you have these conditions, you need to seek medical examination and treatment in time.
9. Unexplained weight loss
Feel loose in your belt? Losing weight without changing your diet and exercise habits could mean stress or thyroid problems are taking a toll on your body.
Unexplained weight loss of 10 pounds or more should not be ignored. Although most weight loss is not related to cancer, it is sometimes one of the main signs of pancreatic and gastric cancers.
Doctors will need to do blood tests, or CT, PET scans to find out if you have cancer.
10. Continuous fever
Fever is not necessarily a bad thing, it means the body is fighting an infection. However, unexplained persistent fever may be a symptom of leukemia or other hematological tumors, and it is necessary to seek medical attention as soon as possible. The doctor will take the medical history and conduct targeted tests.
11. Breast changes
Men are also at risk for breast cancer.
In 2017 alone, 2,470 men in the United States were diagnosed with breast cancer. Men tend to ignore the symptoms of swollen breasts because they are not sensitive to breast cancer and are usually diagnosed very late.
Don’t make fun of your life, if you find a lump, be sure to go to the hospital for an examination. Early diagnosis is the key to successful treatment.
12. Fatigue
Many cancers experience a form of extreme fatigue that does not improve, and no amount of rest helps. It’s not the same as feeling tired after a busy week or intense activity.
If fatigue is interfering with daily life, see a doctor. A doctor can help find the cause and treatment.
Image source: Zhanku Hailuo
13, cough, hemoptysis
Cough in non-smokers is not usually cancer, and most symptoms resolve within 3 to 4 weeks. However, smokers who have symptoms of shortness of breath or hemoptysis must go to the hospital in time.
Cough is the most common symptom of lung cancer.
The doctor will do a sputum culture to check for infection and may order a chest X-ray for other problems.
14. Persistent pain
Most pain is not caused by cancer.
If you have persistent pain for more than a month, don’t push it. Persistent pain is a sign of many types of cancer, including bone and brain tumors. Persistent pain is especially common in cancers that have spread.
15. Abdominal pain with depression
This is rare, but abdominal pain with depression may suggest pancreatic cancer. Unless there is a family history of cancer, there is generally no cause for concern. However, it is still necessary to seek medical attention in time to clarify the cause.
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