Most cancers do not present with signs and symptoms in earlier stages, and they are often nonspecific. Signs and symptoms tend to appear in the advanced stages of the disease, when it is harder to treat.
Advanced cancers (except for blood cancer and skin cancer) often present with similar symptoms. Generally, the first sign of cancer may be a lump that is hard, irregular in shape and fixed (immobile). The lump is usually painless and either doesn’t go away or keeps growing. As cancer the progresses, the following symptoms may appear:
- Fever
- Unintentional weight loss
- Anorexia (loss of appetite)
- Lack of energy or fatigue
Other first signs of cancer are specific and vary according to the affected organ.
| Cancer | First signs |
|---|---|
| Bladder cancer |
|
| Breast cancer |
|
| Cervical cancer |
|
| Colorectal cancer |
|
| Esophageal cancer |
|
| Endometrial cancer or uterine cancer |
|
| Kidney cancer |
|
| Leukemia |
|
| Liver cancer |
|
| Lung cancer |
|
| Melanoma (skin cancer) |
|
| Pancreatic cancer |
|
| Prostate cancer |
|
| Thyroid cancer |
|
| Throat cancer |
|
How Is Cancer Diagnosed?
These symptoms don’t always mean cancer. Many times, these symptoms appear due to noncancerous conditions.
Before arriving at the diagnosis of cancer, your doctor will order certain tests and rule out all other causes. These tests include:
- Blood tests: Includes blood count, tumor marker test, liver function test, kidney function test.
- X-ray chest: Looks for any signs that point toward lung cancer.
- Ultrasound: Involves moving a probe on a specific area, such as the abdomen, and using sound waves to capture images of the organs.
- Computed tomography (CT) scan: Uses multiple X-rays (radiation) to provide detailed images of the organs.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): Provides detailed pictures of the organs using magnetic waves.
- Biopsy: Surgical procedure to remove a sample of suspicious cells for testing. This test is usually necessary to make a definitive diagnosis of cancer.
