An oncologist has outlined five health changes that should not be brushed aside, as they may point to cancer.
Warning signs of cancer are sometimes overlooked, either because a person assumes they are harmless or because they are linked to something less serious.
That can have serious consequences. Lydia Southam, for instance, repeatedly sought medical help over symptoms including bloating, frequent urination, heavy periods and lumps in her stomach.
After two years of appointments and concerns, she was eventually diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer.
In another case, Jessica Zbinden-Webster believed a mark on her face was just a “blocked pore” before learning it was actually skin cancer.
Stories like these are why cancer specialists urge people not to dismiss lasting physical changes. Dr. Jad Chahoud, an oncologist and chief scientific and innovation officer at Orlando Health Cancer Institute, has highlighted five symptoms he believes deserve attention, especially among older adults.
Speaking to the New York Post, Dr. Chahoud shared: “Older adults take longer to recognize that a symptom might be serious, in part because they attribute changes to aging rather than disease.
“I would estimate that a significant proportion of patients can look back and identify symptoms that were present for weeks or months before diagnosis but were attributed to aging, stress, work, a prior injury, menopause, or other common conditions.”
He is not suggesting that every symptom signals cancer, but he says persistent and unexplained changes should not be ignored. Many cancer organizations advise seeing a doctor if a symptom lasts for a couple of weeks, gets worse, or does not have an obvious explanation.
These are five issues he says are worth getting checked.
Feeling run-down from time to time is normal, but ongoing tiredness without a clear cause can sometimes be linked to cancer.
“The key red flag: fatigue that is disproportionate to activity, progressive and not relieved by rest,” he said.
Fatigue can show up in many different cancers, and it may also be caused by anemia, sleep problems, thyroid disease, depression or medication side effects. But if it is new, persistent or getting worse, it should be discussed with a doctor.
Unexpected weight loss is another concern. Losing pounds without dieting or lifestyle changes can sometimes be associated with pancreatic, lung, stomach and colorectal cancers.
Dr. Chahoud advised that anyone who loses 5 percent or more of their body weight over six to 12 months, without an obvious explanation, should seek medical advice.
Loss of appetite can also be a clue, especially if it comes with early fullness, nausea or a general sense that food is no longer appealing.
Bowel habits can also offer important clues about overall health.
While constipation, diarrhea and other digestive issues are often caused by diet or minor problems, lasting changes may also be a sign of colorectal cancer. Particular attention should be paid to changes in the shape, size, consistency or frequency of stools.
Blood in the stool, black stools, unexplained abdominal pain or a feeling that the bowel is not emptying properly are other reasons to seek medical advice promptly.
Urinary changes are another warning sign. If you are urinating far more often than usual, especially if it is waking you repeatedly during the night, or if you notice blood in your urine, it is worth seeing a doctor.
Those symptoms are often associated with prostate cancer, which becomes more common with age in men. But bladder, kidney and other urinary tract cancers can also cause similar changes.
Persistent pain should not automatically be written off as a normal part of getting older either.
Dr. Chahoud says: “While most pain is not cancer, persistent or acute progressive pain can occasionally be associated with cancers involving the bones, kidneys, pancreas or other organs.”
Other symptoms that should not be ignored include new lumps, unexplained bleeding, coughing up blood, a sore or wound that does not heal, and skin changes that grow, darken, bleed or do not go away.
The bigger message, doctors say, is that cancer often starts with symptoms people can easily excuse as stress, aging or everyday wear and tear. If something feels different and does not improve, it is worth getting checked sooner rather than later.
If any of these symptoms are affecting you and you want confidential support, you can contact the American Cancer Society on 1-800-227-2345 or through its live chat feature, which is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.