Cancer symptoms

Cancer symptoms are changes in the body caused by the presence of cancer. They are usually caused by the effect of a cancer on the part of the body where it is growing, although the disease can cause more general symptoms such as weight loss or tiredness. It is advisable that anyone experiencing unusual symptoms that are not normal for them for more than a few weeks should seek medical attention. There are more than 200 different types of cancer with a wide range of different signs and symptoms, making it difficult to produce a definitive list. For information about the specific signs and symptoms of a specific type of cancer, 

• Typical symptoms of cancer include :
• The presence of an unusual lump in the body
• Changes in a mole on the skin
• A persistent cough or hoarseness
• A change in bowel habits, such as unusual diarrhea or constipation
• Difficulty in swallowing or continuing indigestion
• Any abnormal bleeding, including bleeding from the vagina, or blood in urine or faeces
• A persistent sore or ulcer
• Difficulty passing urine
• Unexplained weight loss
• Unexplained pain
• Unexplained tiredness or fatigue
• Skin changes such as an unexplained rash or unusual texture 
• Unexplained night sweats

Cancer

Cancer  known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a broad group of various diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the body through the lymphatic system or bloodstream. Not all tumors are cancerous. Benign tumors do not grow uncontrollably, do not invade neighboring tissues, and do not spread throughout the body. There are over 200 different known cancers that afflict humans.

Determining what causes cancer is complex. Many things are known to increase the risk of cancer, including tobacco use, certain infections, radiation, lack of physical activity, obesity, and environmental pollutants. These can directly damage genes or combine with existing genetic faults within cells to cause the disease. Approximately five to ten percent of cancers are entirely hereditary.

Cancer can be detected in a number of ways, including the presence of certain signs and symptoms, screening tests, or medical imaging. Once a possible cancer is detected it is diagnosed by microscopic examination of a tissue sample. Cancer is usually treated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery. The chances of surviving the disease vary greatly by the type and location of the cancer and the extent of disease at the start of treatment. While cancer can affect people of all ages, and a few types of cancer are more common in children, the risk of developing cancer generally increases with age. In 2007, cancer caused about 13% of all human deaths worldwide (7.9 million). Rates are rising as more people live to an old age and as mass lifestyle changes occur in the developing world.