Cancer Signs and Symptoms

Signs and Symptoms The key to a cure is early diagnosis! Knowing these signs could save your life or the life of someone you know.

Note: Having any of these symptoms does NOT necessarily mean you have cancer, but is something you should have checked out if symptoms persist.

Bladder Cancer: Blood in the urine, pain, or burning upon urination; frequent urination; or cloudy urine.

Bone Cancer: Pain in the bone or swelling around the affected site; repeated fractures in bones; weakness, fatigue, weight loss; repeated infections; nausea, vomiting, constipation, problems with urination; weakness or numbness in the legs; bumps and bruises that persist.

Brain Cancer: Dizziness; drowsiness, abnormal eye movements or changes in vision; weakness, loss of feeling in arms or legs or difficulties in walking; fits or convulsions; changes in personality, memory or speech; headaches that tend to be worse in the morning and ease during the day, that may be accompanied by nausea or vomiting.

Breast Cancer: A lump or thickening of the breast, inverted nipple or discharge from the nipple; change in the skin of the breast; a feeling of heat; or enlarged lymph nodes under the arm.

Breast Cancer - Inflammatory: Change in the skin of the breast including redness, thickening of the skin, prominence of the hair follicles resembling an orange peel. A rash-like appearance that doesn't go away.

Cervical Cancer: Abnormal vaginal bleeding, such as between periods or after intercourse. Vaginal bleeding after menopause. Foul vaginal discharge. Discomfort during intercourse.

Colorectal Cancer: Rectal bleeding (red blood in stools or black stools); abdominal cramps; constipation alternating with diarrhea; weight loss; loss of appetite; weakness; pallid complexion.

Esophageal Cancer: Difficulty swallowing; severe unintentional weight loss; pain in your throat, mid-chest, or between your shoulder blades; hoarseness or a chronic cough.

Hodgkin's Disease: Painless swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck, underarm, or groin.

Kidney Cancer: Blood in urine; dull ache or pain in the back or side; lump in kidney area, sometimes accompanied by high blood pressure or abnormality in red blood cell count.

Leukemia: Weakness, paleness; fever and flu-like symptoms; bruising and prolonged bleeding; enlarged lymph nodes, spleen, liver; pain in bones and joints; frequent infections; weight loss; night sweats.

Liver Cancer: Loss of appetite and weight loss; fever; fatigue and weakness; pain in the upper right abdomen; abdominal swelling or a feeling of fullness/bloating; jaundice.

Lung Cancer: Wheezing, persistent cough for months; blood-streaked sputum; persistent ache in chest; congestion in lungs; enlarged lymph nodes in neck.

Melanoma: Change in mole or other bump on the skin, including bleeding or change in size, shape, color, or texture.

Multiple Myeloma: Bone pain or frequent fractures; infections, especially bacterial infections of the respiratory and urinary tracts. Generalized fatigue, weight loss and malaise; nausea, vomiting, altered mental state; depression.

Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Painless swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck, underarm, or groin; persistent fever; feeling of fatigue; unexplained weight loss; itchy skin and rashes; small lumps in skin; bone pain; swelling in the abdomen; liver or spleen enlargement.

Oral Cancer: A lump in the mouth, ulceration of the lip, tongue or inside of the mouth that does not heal within a couple of weeks; dentures that no longer fit well; oral pain, bleeding, foul breath, loose teeth, and changes in speech.

Ovarian Cancer: Bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, urinary symptoms (urgency or frequency.)

Pancreatic Cancer: Upper abdominal pain and unexplained weight loss; pain near the center of back; intolerance of fatty foods; yellowing of the skin; abdominal masses; enlargement of liver and spleen.

Prostate Cancer: Urination difficulties due to blockage of the urethra; bladder retains urine creating frequent feelings of urgency to urinate, especially at night; bladder not emptying completely; burning or painful urination; bloody urine; tenderness over the bladder; and dull ache in the pelvis or back.

Stomach Cancer: Indigestion or heartburn; discomfort or pain in the abdomen; nausea and vomiting; diarrhea or constipation; bloating after meals; loss of appetite; weakness and fatigue; vomiting blood or blood in the stool.

Testicular Cancer: Pain or swelling in the testes; lumps or nodules, whether painful or not; enlargement of the testicles; pain in the lower back or groin area; swelling of the scrotum.

Thyroid Cancer: Problems with swollowing; hoarseness; enlarged lymph nodes in the neck; breathing difficulty; pain in the throat and/or neck.

This information is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician or other health care provider. If you have an illness or medical problem, please consult your doctor. See our Choose Hope Disclaimer.