A healthy body begins with healthy habits as an infrastructure to create the body’s overall health and maintain a healthy self. Recently, India has lost many kind souls to cancer. Especially after the pandemic, the risk of cancer is increasing among people.
One has to regularly do self-check tests, ideally once every month, to look for signs and symptoms that could be an indication of cancer.
Here are some suggestions from the best cancer specialists about the early symptoms of cancer that you should never ignore.
Dr Rajas Balkrishna Patel, MBBS, MD, Founder and CEO of RH Clinic-Cancer & Rheumatology Treatment Centre, Mumbai, said, “As we face an increasing number of cancer cases year on year, we need to be aware of early signs and symptoms of common cancers. Most cancers are potentially curable if diagnosed in early stages, i.e., Stage 1 or early Stage 2. Cancer is usually discovered during routine health checks or during an investigation into another disease. Patients who present to outpatient departments with cancer symptoms are diagnosed at later stages of the disease, which is incurable. Early symptoms and signs of common cancers could be unexplained weight loss, unexplained fevers, bloating or distension of the abdomen, post-menopausal bleeding, loss of appetite or feeling of fullness all the time, and changes in breasts. “
Dr Mishil S. Parikh & Dr Prateek C. Hegde, MBBS, MS, Fellowship in Orthopedic Oncology-TATA Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, said, “ Bone cancer can be caught early if we are vigilant enough. A swelling that is not associated with injury, doesn’t go away in a couple of days and that progresses can be one of the earliest signs of musculoskeletal cancer. Non-proportional pain at minor injuries is also one sign. Fracture on trivial/low velocity injury should be considered a sign of bone pathology. An X-ray can promptly diagnose a pathology, which can then be evaluated and treated.”
Dr Gunjesh Singh, MBBS, MD, DM, ECMO (UK), ACORD, Consultant and HOD of Medical Oncology – Bhagwaan Mahavir Medical Superspeciality Hospital, Ranchi said, “As with any disease or illness, the earlier the treatment begins, the better are chances of full recovery, the same holds true for cancer. The early signs of cancer are easily overlooked due to their non-specific nature and similarity to other common illnesses. The common symptoms are extreme weakness, fever, unexplained weight loss, persistent pain, irregular bowel and bladder habits, a rapidly growing lump, and unusual bleeding or discharge. But the mere presence of these symptoms isn’t diagnostic of cancer but rather warrants a timely visit to your healthcare provider. “
Look out and reach out. Watch out for the above symptoms, identify your risk of cancer and reach out to your nearest oncologist at the right time.