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What are the symptoms of cancer? How can someone diagnose if he has cancer?

Just wondering what the symptoms of cancer are? How can a person recongnize if he/she might have cancer? Is there any way you can tell in general? What instructions/advices/recommendations could you give? Additional info would be helpful! Thanks! What should I do if I want to make sure I don't have cancer?

Public Comments

1. Only a doctor can diagnose cancer...there are different symptoms for different types of cancers.
2. There are so many kinds of cancer. some linger for a long time before anyone would know. some symptoms are very general, like loss of appetite and pain. If you are worried, go see a doctor. i bet you get a clean bill of health.
3. there is no way to tell since there are so many different types of cancer, there is a cancer for pretty much everything in your body so they all have different symptoms. talk to a doctor or check a medical site for specific cancers.
4. Some cancers don't show symptoms until the cancer is in an advanced stage, like loosing weight for no reason, fatigue, just a few to name. If you have a lump in your breast get it checked, if you have a mole that has changed get it checked, if you are coughing for a long time, get it checked, if you have bad headaches get it checked. Get yearly physicals and your Doctor will send you for different tests according to your age. Like if you smoke you should get a chest x-ray every year. When you are 50 get a colonoscopy and a prostate check. When you are 40 get yearly mammograms. Hope this helps.
5. There are over 200 different types of cancer. Cancer is a progressive disease which means that it starts out very tiny, a microscopic cell . . and starts to grow. When it is small there are rarely any symptoms at all. The body does not recognize a malignant cell as being dangerous or any different that any of the other millions of cells within the body. In fact the body will nurture the cancer cell in the same way it takes care of the rest of the body . . and make it a nice healthy cancer cell. Eventually the cell grows into a nodule or tumor and if it is not bothering any vital structures or nerves . . again, no one will feel anything. The cancer will continue to grow and be nourished by the body (just as the body takes care of organs, bones, skin, tissue it also takes care of cancer tumors). Tumors at this point can start to grow their own blood vessels . . if a patient is lucky they will notice symptoms of fatigue or unusual weight loss as the body continues to nourish the new tumor at the expense of other organs. In general, though, there are very, very few warning signs that someone has a malignancy until the cancer is advanced. One of the only warning signs a young person might have that something is wrong is to notice an unusual lump or bump that seems to be growing. Otherwise, most cancers are found by chance. The only recommendation I could give anyone is to remain as healthy as you can, diet, exercise, don't smoke or drink excessively, avoid excessive exposure to carcinogens, and stay healthy. This won't prevent all cancers (you might stop smoking, but later get a bone cancer anyway . . but at least you didn't get lung cancer) , but it will cut down on the risks . . . Mostly though staying healthy and fit will help you fight cancer should you ever get it. The healthier you are the stronger you'll be when you have treatment. It makes a difference to not have any secondary health issues when fighting this monster.
6. If it is colon cancer and is in middle or late stages, you will tremendously lose weight and also will have stool problems.
7. Dear vladimir_hadzhiysk you can find the symptons of the most frequently cancer forms here: http://cancerhelp.awardspace.com/ Hope it helps Vladimir, My best regards.