How to recognize the symptoms of cancer. Can a patient have two cancer tumors at once? Disorders of urination and stool

Every year in Russia, almost 300,000 people die from cancer - the population of a small city. We can discuss for a long time the lack of professionalism of doctors who are unable to make an accurate diagnosis for a long time or about incorrectly prescribed treatment - the statistics are inexorable: the main cause of deaths is a delay in seeking medical help. Most patients at oncology clinics have an advanced form of the disease, when the chance of recovery is minimal.

Cancer stages and survival

Survival from cancer directly depends on the stage of spread of the cancer process.

Stage 0

Preinvasive cancer (cancer in situ - cancer in place), a limited tumor of microscopic size, without metastases. Survival rates reach 98%.

Stage 1

A localized tumor of small size that does not extend beyond the affected organ. There are no metastases. Survival rate is up to 95%.

Stage 2

The tumor grows into the muscle layer or walls of the affected organ without going beyond its boundaries. Single metastases to regional lymph nodes. Survival rate is up to 70%.

Stage 3

The tumor reaches a significant size with infiltration into neighboring organs and tissues. Multiple regional metastases. Survival rate is less than 40%.

Stage 4

Extensive tumor that has spread to surrounding organs and tissues. Distant metastases. Survival rate is less than 5-7%.

In the early stages, many forms of cancer can be treated very successfully, but diagnosing cancer during this period is extremely difficult. This usually happens by accident - for example, during medical examinations. Unfortunately, most patients do not attach importance to the few alarming symptoms that accompany the development of a tumor.

How to recognize the first symptoms?

The nature of the symptoms of cancer depends, first of all, on the location of the tumor and its size. But there are a number of signs characteristic of all forms of cancer that should alert any person:

• Sudden causeless weight loss
• Fatigue, weakness
• Low-grade fever that persists for many weeks in the absence of obvious inflammatory or infectious diseases
• A constant feeling of discomfort in the area of ​​any organ (pain occurs in the later stages of cancer)

Many symptoms are characteristic of certain types of cancer, depending on the location of the tumor. It is necessary to pay attention to them if they appear for no apparent reason and do not go away for a long time.

Respiratory system

• Persistent cough (sometimes with hemoptysis)
• Dyspnea
• Hoarseness

Gastrointestinal tract

• Change in appetite
• Aversion to any foods (especially meat)
• Problems with bowel movements (constipation or diarrhea)
• Presence of blood in stool

Genitourinary system

• Blood in urine
• Problems with urination
• Erection disorders in men
• Menstrual dysfunction in women

One of the first symptoms of breast cancer is uneven breast contours, asymmetry, and the presence of lumps. A suspicion of skin cancer may include changes in the appearance of moles - changes in color, size, uneven edges, itching, bleeding.

The right to live

Regular preventive examinations are the main chance to detect cancer at an early stage. An annual visit to the examination room and fluorography significantly increase the likelihood of timely detection of a tumor. Women over 40 years of age are recommended to have a mammogram at least once every 2 years, since this test can detect breast cancer at a very early stage, when the tumor cannot yet be detected during self-examination.

Many symptoms of early stage cancer are similar to those of other diseases. But even if you have the slightest doubt, especially if you belong to a risk group (genetic factor, dangerous working conditions, bad habits), be sure to consult a doctor. You should not attribute these symptoms to vitamin deficiency, stress, or the consequences of excessive workload. It’s better to play it safe, but be calm about your health. And most importantly, never self-medicate!

Cancer is a malignant neoplasm that is constantly growing and, as a result, can metastasize first to nearby tissues, organs and lymph nodes, and then through the blood to any place in the body.

Before we look at all the symptoms of cancer, it is necessary to understand one small detail for readers. You must understand that even a combination of any signs may not necessarily indicate malignant cancer. Often these are ordinary diseases, infections, inflammations, which can manifest themselves in the same way.

Organ cancer is only in the initial stages attached to a specific tissue; later, after developing into phase 4, the tumor begins to spread metastases, which can cover any organs.

To find out for sure whether you have cancer, you must take biochemistry and. And after confirmation, connect additional diagnostic methods: MRI, CT, ultrasound, etc. Let's look at all the common symptoms of cancer and how to recognize oncology?

Headache

If you constantly have a headache in one place for no apparent reason, then this may also indicate brain cancer. At the same time, it is not worth donating blood for tumor markers, since the tumor does not have a specific antigen and it is better to immediately go for an MRI.

Tumor markers

• Bulok S100

Birthmarks of unusual and strange shapes

Usually, strange moles that have an irregular shape, as well as strange pigment spots, indicate melanoma or skin cancer. You can go first and donate blood for the S-100 tumor marker.

Fever

If you constantly have chills, elevated temperature without additional reasons - snot and other signs indicating a cold. It is impossible to say what kind of cancer this sign indicates. Therefore, first of all, you need to take a general and biochemical blood test. The temperature with cancer lasts quite a long time.

Lumps in the chest

Usually indicates breast cancer in women. When palpating, it is necessary to note the hard clots inside the mammary gland. Collectively, some mucous fluids with an unpleasant odor may be released from the chest. In this case, you need to immediately go to a mammologist, who, after the examination, will send you to an oncologist for examination.

Tumor markers

• SA 15-3

Deteriorated condition of nails and hair

When a tumor is actively developing, a large amount of antibodies and waste products are produced in the blood, and severe inflammation is possible. Plus, the neoplasm itself consumes a large amount of energy and nutrients for growth. Therefore, nails and hair may not have enough of it. At the same time, hair may fall out, its color becomes dull, and nails become brittle and constantly peel off.

Bleeding from the vagina

Usually indicates cancer of the uterus and ovaries. In addition, the lower abdomen may hurt. Between menstrual periods there may be heavy bleeding, and it also happens that blood is present in the urine.

Tumor markers

• CA 125

NOTE! To quickly diagnose uterine cancer, you just need to visit a gynecologist once a year, who can recognize the disease in time. In this case, the neoplasm is very clearly visible on the cervix.

Frequent fainting

If fainting occurs for no known reason. This may indicate brain cancer. In this case, a clinical and biochemical blood test is taken, and then the doctor looks at the test results.

Bumps on the bones

If you have hard lumps on your legs, arms, hip or shoulder, this could indicate bone cancer. But you must understand that they could arise from bruises or fractures. You should immediately consult a doctor and have a bone x-ray done.

Tumor markers

• TRAP 5b

Absent-mindedness and memory impairment

Indicates that the cancerous tumor has begun to seriously grow in the head. This happens because the tumor uses a lot of resources for its growth.

Decreased appetite

This is accompanied by severe weight loss. May indicate both gastrointestinal cancer and. At later stages it can refer to almost any oncology.

Profuse sweating

If everything was fine with you before, but then suddenly you began to constantly sweat, even in a cool room, then this may indicate a disorder of the nervous system. Usually refers to a number of malignant formations in the neuroendocrine region.

Heat

If you feel hot flashes in your face and throughout your body at varying intervals, this may indicate endocrine system cancer.

Change of mood

It may indicate both brain cancer and certain tumors that affect a woman’s hormonal levels.

Loss of vision

Indicates malignant neoplasms of the optic nerve. But it may be due to severe stress, physical shock or external factors. Vision also decreases due to genetics. Against the background, general health worsens.

Abdominal pain

May indicate stomach, pancreatic or intestinal cancer. At the same time, the type of pain is similar to gastritis or an ulcer. In this case, it is necessary to undergo a fibrogastroduodenoscopy (FGDS) examination and fluoroscopy of the stomach. The disadvantage of this group of oncology is that the first signs of cancer appear only at stage 3.

Weight loss weight loss

It should be noted here that the decrease occurs quickly even though the person does not lose weight, does not diet or exercise. Usually indicates cancer in the colon, small intestine or rectum. In addition, there may be a difficult act of defecation, a constant feeling that the intestines are full.

Skin color changes

Yellow color usually indicates pathologies in the liver and pancreas. In this case, when the color changes, the color of the sclera of the tongue may change and skin itching may appear. I would also like to add that this can also occur at the last stage of almost any cancer, when metastases reach the liver.

Labored breathing

Dry cough, later sputum appears. At the very beginning, the cough may have no symptoms at all. Afterwards, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, and shortness of breath may appear. Indicates, but cough may also be present with stomach cancer, but in rarer cases.

Difficult to swallow

May indicate cancer of the pharynx or throat. In this case, the tumor can grow to such a size that a person simply cannot swallow or breathe.

Heartburn

When gastric juice enters the esophagus due to a tumor. In this case, the person constantly feels severe heartburn. May indicate both stomach and duodenal cancer.

Enlarged lymph nodes

The swelling itself mainly appears on the face. This is due to the fact that the lymph nodes react to the tumor. It can indicate cancer of anything, which is why it is better to immediately consult a doctor and get blood tests.

Upper body swelling

Compression of the lymphatic vessels and circulatory system near the lungs due to a growing tumor leads to swelling on the face and upper body. Occurs against the background of frequent smoking.

Fatigue

A tumor has waste products that are intensively produced into the blood, plus when cancer grows, the tumor can interfere with the normal functioning of the organ, causing stagnation of substances. Intoxication, headache, malaise, and constant weakness due to cancer occur.

Blood in stool

Indicates bowel cancer. It may also be accompanied by difficulty in defecation due to the fact that the cancerous tumor has already grown greatly. The stool becomes dark in color due to blood. It is necessary to urgently consult a doctor, as subsequently, due to the tumor, the patient will not be able to go to the toilet at all. Blood appears as a result of damage to blood vessels by the tumor as a result of violent growth.

Constipation, diarrhea

A general disorder of the digestive process may indicate several cancer areas: from stomach cancer to intestinal cancer.

Difficulty urinating

It is not always accompanied by pain; it can usually begin at stages 1 and 2 of prostate cancer. This is due to the fact that the prostate gland swells and narrows the urethra. Then the man needs to make every effort and strain his abs in order to go “small”.

In the last stages of cancer, urination may not be possible at all, and doctors insert a catheter. The cancerous tumor seizes the nerves responsible for male libido, and the man begins to have sexual problems.

Blood in urine

In men, it can be associated with prostate carcinoma, and in women, cancer develops in the uterus. Moreover, these diseases at stage 3 begin to affect the nearest organs, kidneys, liver and bladder, which can also cause bleeding.

Swelling of the scrotum and penis

Cancer of the testicle or penis. But in the last stage of a prostate tumor, these symptoms may also appear. Plus there is swelling of the lower extremities.

Back pain

This does not always indicate osteochondrosis or inflammation in the spine. Sometimes it can be cancer of the vertebrae.

Nipple discharge

Accompanied by chest pain. Indicates damage to breast cancer cells with metastases. In addition, it is best to check the breast itself for lumps and if there are any, consult a doctor immediately. The discharge itself smells bad.

What can cause cancer?

The exact causes of cancer have not yet been established, but there are several factors and assumptions.

1. Poor nutrition
2. Ecology
3. Work related to pesticides and chemistry.
4. Smoking
5. Alcohol
6. Genetics
7. Unprotected sex and sexually transmitted diseases.
8. Stress

How to detect cancer at an early stage?

Not all of the above oncology symptoms indicate that you have a malignant tumor. But if there are at least 10 signs of cancer, then you should worry. But you must understand that it is impossible to identify the disease only by internal symptoms and it is worth resorting to other studies.

How to fully detect cancer?

1. Take a blood test with leukocyte formula
2. Donate blood for biochemistry
3. Tests for tumor markers.
4. Biopsy of suspicious tissue.

Signs of cancer in women

Oncological diseases in women manifest themselves a little more clearly in the initial stages than in men. During pregnancy, this can lead to miscarriage.

Often, a cancerous tumor does not manifest itself with any specific symptoms. Therefore, most people learn about a terrible diagnosis only when coping with the disease is already very difficult, and sometimes even impossible. And there is also a category of citizens who, in case of any ailment, think about the worst and try to detect signs of cancer. Perhaps there is no need for excessive vigilance, but if you really notice something wrong in your condition, it is worth undergoing a medical examination. Better to be safe!

Cancer: Signs and Symptoms

Diseases of this kind manifest themselves in different ways. But there are common characteristics between women and men. In general, three groups of symptoms can be distinguished:

• Unsuccessful treatment of diseases. When you carry out intensive therapy for any pathology, be it a stomach ulcer, inflammation of the bladder or pneumonia, and there is no improvement over a long time, you should be wary. This may indicate the presence of a cancerous lesion.
• Minor manifestations. Decreased performance, a constant feeling of discomfort, rapid fatigue, decreased interest in the surrounding reality, causeless weight loss - all this can indicate oncology.
• Tissue proliferation. If, during a visual examination or palpation, you discover deformation or asymmetry of some part of your body, you should be wary. Perhaps such a tumor is dangerous.

Now we will list the first symptoms of cancer, when they appear you should definitely consult a doctor.

1. Sudden weight loss. Many people at an early stage of the development of the disease begin to rapidly lose weight. If you have lost more than five kilograms in a short time, visit your doctor immediately.
2. Increased temperature and fever. This symptom usually appears when the cancer has already spread quite widely. But it could be the first bell.
3. Fatigue and weakness. These are perhaps the most important first signs of cancer, characteristic of absolutely any type of cancer. However, many simply ignore them.
4. Bone pain. This symptom may indicate malignant neoplasms in bone tissue.
5. Changes in the quality and color of the skin. Dermatological signs such as darkening, redness, yellowness of the skin, itching and others may indicate the presence of skin cancer or oncology of internal organs.
6. Changes in the size, color, thickness, shape of moles, as well as the occurrence of wounds or ulcers that cannot be treated. Moles can transform into malignant formations, so do not ignore such manifestations.
7. Bladder dysfunction and stool disorders. You should consult a specialist if you suffer from constant constipation or, conversely, diarrhea. Changes such as pain during bowel movements, more frequent or infrequent urination should also alert you.
8. Constant headache. This symptom may indicate the presence of a brain tumor.
9. Unusual discharge, bleeding. Impurities of blood in stool, urine, vaginal bleeding in women - all this can be a manifestation of cancer.
10. Persistent cough, sore throat, hoarseness, as well as problems swallowing and indigestion. If you find blood clots in your sputum when you cough, you should immediately visit a doctor, because you may have lung cancer. Problems with swallowing and digestive disorders are often not signs of cancer, but if they occur together, cancer of the pharynx, esophagus or gastrointestinal tract can be suspected.

Symptoms of different types of cancer

Of course, in addition to general manifestations, there are also specific signs of cancer that are characteristic only of one type or another. And still, even if you discover any characteristic symptoms, you should not immediately think that you have cancer. First, visit a specialist, and then draw conclusions.

Stomach cancer

In the early stages of the disease, signs are imprecise and scarce. Often, not only patients, but also doctors themselves attribute the symptoms to gastritis. In this case, everything is limited to the prescription of medications, and a full examination is not carried out. And yet, specialists who listen attentively to patients’ complaints sometimes detect the first signs of cancer. These include:

The described first signs of oncology can appear both against the background of a previous stomach disease (for example, ulcers), and against the background of absolute health. Only when a malignant tumor becomes widespread do striking symptoms appear: persistent vomiting, intense pain radiating to the back, severe weakness, sallow skin color.

Breast cancer

The first signs of cancer in women in this case are retraction and flattening of the nipple and bloody discharge from it. Soreness is not a diagnostic symptom. With mastopathy, the pain may be completely absent, but with mastopathy, on the contrary, it can be pronounced. Depending on what form of cancer it is, signs and symptoms will vary. So, with a mastitis-like form of the disease, the mammary gland becomes greatly enlarged, swollen and painful. The skin becomes hot to the touch. The erysipelatous form is characterized by the sudden appearance of redness on the skin of the chest, as well as a significant increase in temperature. Armored oncology is manifested by a lumpy compaction of the skin. A kind of shell is formed, covering part of the chest, and sometimes the whole of it.

Rectal cancer

As already mentioned, usually the signs of cancer in the early stages are not particularly pronounced. Rectal cancer is no exception. Symptoms that can be noticed: dull pain during defecation at the time of passing stool, discharge of mucus and blood in the stool, and subsequently ribbon-like stools. Such manifestations are often mistaken for signs of hemorrhoids. However, there is a difference: with hemorrhoids, blood in the stool usually appears at the beginning of a bowel movement, and with rectal cancer - at the end. At a later stage, constipation followed by diarrhea, frequent urge to defecate, and discharge of foul-smelling purulent-bloody masses are added to the listed symptoms.

Skin cancer

This type of oncology can also have different forms: ulcerative, nodular, infiltrative. However, often the first signs of skin cancer, regardless of the form, are the same. Dense painless nodules of a waxy pinkish-yellowish color appear on the body. Gradually they grow. Very rarely there are forms with sluggish growth, which do not show visible changes for many years. But such cases also happen.

Lung cancer

Depending on where the primary tumor occurs, in the lung tissue or bronchus, the first signs of oncology will vary. In the case of central cancer (bronchial cancer), a hacking dry cough first develops, later sputum appears, often with blood in it. This form of the disease is very characterized by the causeless occurrence of pneumonitis (inflammation of the lung), accompanied by a rise in temperature, increased cough, general weakness, and in some cases chest pain. Peripheral cancer, which originates in the lung tissue, is practically asymptomatic at the initial stage and is often detected during a preventive X-ray examination.

A brain tumor

Signs of brain cancer are numerous and cannot be called specific. It is noteworthy that many neoplasms do not manifest themselves at all and are most often discovered only after death, during an autopsy. This applies, for example, to a pituitary tumor. You also need to take into account that not all tumors are malignant - benign tumors often manifest themselves in the same way as cancerous ones. The only way to verify the nature of the existing symptoms is to undergo an examination.

Symptoms of these types of oncology are associated with pressure from the tumor on the brain and, as a result, disruption of its functioning. The symptoms are similar in both the primary and metastatic (when the tumor penetrates other parts of the brain) stages and are characterized by weakness, headache, absent-mindedness, the appearance of convulsions and spasms, and difficulty in motor processes. Nausea and vomiting (especially in the morning), blurred vision, weakened intellectual activity associated with impaired memory and concentration, a gradual decrease in mental activity, changes in the emotional state, and difficulty in speech processes are also possible. The listed symptoms, as a rule, do not appear immediately, so the disease may remain undetected for a long time.

Finally

We have listed the signs of the main oncological diseases, but, of course, we have not touched on all types of cancer. There are a lot of them, and the symptoms in each specific case will differ. For example, the main manifestations of uterine cancer are bleeding and discharge in the form of leucorrhoea from the vagina. The main symptom is pain when swallowing food, and the most common bladder symptom is blood in the urine. Do not be negligent about your health and immediately consult a doctor at the slightest suspicion of a terrible disease!

If you have a history of cancer in your family or have been diagnosed with pre-cancerous disease, it is expected that you will want to learn how to spot the early symptoms of cancer. Because the symptoms, severity, and progression of cancer are unique to each person, it is important to monitor your body for any changes. If you wish, talk to your doctor about genetic testing to determine your risk for certain types of cancer. By being aware of the risks, monitoring symptoms, and catching cancer early, you can increase your chances of survival.

Steps

Part 1

1. Pay attention to changes in your skin. Skin cancer can cause your skin to change color, making it darker, yellower, or redder. If your skin changes color, increases in hair growth, or develops itchy patches on your skin, make an appointment with your physician or dermatologist. If you have moles, make sure they haven't changed in any way. Another symptom of cancer is an unusual lump or lump on the surface of the body.

   • Watch for sores that won't heal or white patches in the mouth and tongue.

2. Monitor changes in bowel movements or urination. Constipation that won't go away, diarrhea, or any changes in the size of your stool may indicate colon cancer. Symptoms of colon or bladder cancer include:

   • Painful sensations when urinating
   • Frequent or, conversely, infrequent urination
   • Signs of blood or other discharge

3. Determine if you have lost weight. If you haven't been on a diet but have lost weight, you have unexplained weight loss. Weight loss of more than 4.5 kg is an early sign of pancreatic, stomach, esophageal or lung cancer.

   • You may also experience dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) or indigestion after eating. They can be symptoms of cancer of the esophagus, throat and stomach.

4. Beware of symptoms of common illnesses. Some early cancer symptoms may resemble those of the common cold, with some key differences. You may have a cough, fatigue, fever, or unexplained pain (such as a severe headache). But unlike a cold, you won't get better with rest, your cough won't go away, and despite your fever, you won't show signs of infection.

   • Pain can be one of the very first symptoms of cancer to appear. Typically, the temperature rises after the cancer has progressed.

5. Don't diagnose yourself. You should not assume that a few matching symptoms absolutely indicate that you have cancer. Symptoms of cancer can vary greatly and are not specific. This means that many similar symptoms can indicate a number of other diseases of varying severity.

   • For example, fatigue can indicate many things, and cancer is just one of these things. Fatigue may turn out to be a symptom of a completely different disease. This is why proper medical examination is very important.

6. Talk to your doctor about diagnosing other types of cancer. Because some types of cancer do not have specific guidelines, discuss your risk factors with your doctor. Your doctor will then decide whether you should be tested. Ask your dentist for recommendations regarding oral cancer. Ask your doctor if you should be tested for the following types of cancer:

   • Prostate cancer
   • Cancer of the uterus
   • Thyroid cancer
   • Lymphoma
   • Testicular cancer

Part 3

1. Consult your doctor. Not all people need to undergo genetic testing to determine risk factors. If you think you would benefit from learning about your genetic cancer risks, talk to your doctor and make sure he or she knows your and your family's medical history. Your doctor (and geneticist) can help you determine whether you are at risk of developing cancer and whether you should have genetic testing.

   • Many cancers that can be tested for through genetic testing are quite rare, so it is important to understand whether you should have the test at all.

2. Weigh the pros and cons of genetic testing. Because genetic testing can determine factors for cancer development, it can help you decide how often you should have physical exams and screening tests. Genetic testing results may provide little information, be misinterpreted, and make you feel anxious and anxious.

   • Hereditary breast cancer and ovarian cancer syndrome
   • Li-Fraumeni syndrome
   • Lynch syndrome (hereditary colon cancer without polyposis)
   • Familial adenomatous polyposis
   • Retinoblastoma
   • Multiple endocrine neoplasia type I (Wermer syndrome) and type II
   • Cowden syndrome
   • Hippel-Lindau disease

3. Get genetic testing. Your doctor will do genetic testing if you both think it would benefit you. The doctor will take a small sample of tissue or fluid (blood, saliva, cells from the inside of your mouth, skin cells, or amniotic fluid) from you. This sample will be sent to a laboratory, which will analyze it and send the results to your doctor.

   • Although genetic testing can be done online, you may want to work directly with your doctor or genetic counselor to get more information about your test results.

Executive Director
Non-profit partnership "Equal right to life",
YES. Borisov

Oncology: the problem has a solution

Modern Russian statistics are frightening: every year in the country Oncology is detected in more than 500 thousand people. Of these, about 300 thousand die. Every third of those newly diagnosed with the disease today will die within 12 months. This is largely due to the lack of information: people do not know anything about where, how and why they need and can undergo examination in order to detect the disease at an early stage, and even after hearing their diagnosis, many patients cannot receive the full treatment they need volume.

Medical institutions also have their own problems. Unfortunately, modern technology for the treatment of cancer is not available in all cities today. The staff is poorly trained: surgeons, chemotherapists and radiologists need to receive up-to-date qualifications.

The nonprofit partnership Equal Right to Life is trying to address these issues. Since 2006, we have been trying to implement as efficiently as possible the main goal of our program: to ensure equal rights of Russian patients and Russian oncologists to information about modern achievements in global oncology.

During the implementation of the program, educational events are held for oncologists. Internships for specialists are conducted at the country's leading medical centers. There is also a program for the implementation of on-site certification cycles and master classes with the involvement of leading specialists from our country.

Along with this, the material and technical base of regional oncology treatment institutions is being modernized: modern equipment is being purchased, and repair work is being carried out using extra-budgetary funds on a free basis.

Oncology responds well to treatment in the early stages. So that everyone can consult with an experienced specialist and find out information about modern methods of combating cancer (is oncology transmitted, what are its symptoms, methods of diagnosis and treatment), a special hotline “Equal Right to Life” was created in 2006.

The number of thematic events for residents of the country is growing every year, because cancer is a problem that everyone should know about.