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When to seek medical advice: Arrange an appointment if you continue losing weight without trying, particularly if the change is substantial or accompanied by other symptoms.Find Treatments
2. Persistent or Unusual Fatigue
Everyone feels tired occasionally, especially after a busy day, poor sleep, or physical exertion. Cancer-related fatigue, however, may feel different from ordinary tiredness.
It can be persistent, overwhelming, and difficult to relieve even after resting. Some people find that everyday activities, such as climbing stairs, preparing meals, or concentrating at work, become unusually difficult.
Fatigue may occur because of anemia, inflammation, changes in metabolism, or other effects of illness. It can accompany several types of cancer, including leukemia and some cancers affecting the digestive system.
Nevertheless, fatigue is extremely common and is much more often associated with causes other than cancer.
What to watch for: Seek medical advice if tiredness lasts for weeks, has no clear explanation, or interferes with daily life, especially if it occurs alongside unexplained weight loss, bleeding, or persistent pain.
3. A New Lump or Unusual Swelling
A new lump under the skin can be alarming, but not every lump is dangerous. Many are caused by cysts, infections, or benign growths.
However, a new or changing lump should not be ignored. Breast cancer may present as a lump in the breast or underarm, while some lymphomas can cause enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, armpit, or groin.
Cancerous lumps may be painless, firm, or persistent, but these characteristics cannot reliably distinguish cancer from a harmless condition.
Do not assume a lump is safe simply because it does not hurt. Likewise, tenderness does not automatically mean it is serious.Get Health Tips
What to do: Have a healthcare professional examine a new, growing, persistent, or otherwise unusual lump. Breast changes should be evaluated even if they do not cause pain.
4. Changes in the Skin
Your skin can reveal changes that deserve medical attention. A spot that changes in size, shape, color, or texture may require evaluation, particularly if it looks different from your other moles.
Warning signs associated with melanoma can include asymmetry, irregular borders, multiple colors, increasing size, or a spot that changes over time. Melanoma can also develop in areas that receive little sunlight.