8 Signs that You have Cancer

Here are some of the more common signs and symptoms that may be caused by cancer. However, any of these can be caused by other problems as well.

• Fatigue or extreme tiredness that doesn’t get better with rest.
• Weight loss or gain of 10 pounds or more for no known reason
• Eating problems such as not feeling hungry, trouble swallowing, belly pain, or nausea and vomiting
• Swelling or lumps anywhere in the body
• Thickening or lump in the breast or other part of the body
• Pain, especially new or with no known reason, that doesn’t go away or gets worse
• Skin changes such as a lump that bleeds or turns scaly, a new mole or a change in a mole, a sore that does not heal, or a yellowish color to the skin or eyes (jaundice).
• Cough or hoarseness that does not go away
• Unusual bleeding or bruising for no known reason
• Change in bowel habits, such as constipation or diarrhea, that doesn’t go away or a change in how your stools look
• Bladder changes such as pain when passing urine, blood in the urine or needing to pass urine more or less often
• Fever or nights sweats
• Headaches
• Vision or hearing problems
• Mouth changes such as sores, bleeding, pain, or numbness

The signs and symptoms listed above are the more common ones seen with cancer, but there are many others that are not listed here. If you notice any major changes in the way your body works or the way you feel – especially if it lasts for a long time or gets worse – let a doctor know. If it has nothing to do with cancer, the doctor can find out more about what’s going on and, if needed, treat it. If it is cancer, you’ll give yourself the chance to have it treated early, when treatment is more successful.