A dry, hacking cough that lasts longer than two weeks, especially if you are coughing up blood or a bloody discharge, may be a sign of lung cancer and should be checked by a doctor.
Also, see a doctor if you are experiencing persistent hoarseness or a breathy, raspy or strained voice when you speak, particularly if you also are having difficulty swallowing or pain in your neck or throat. These could be symptoms of thyroid or throat cancers.
Irregular periods or pelvic pain
If you are experiencing irregular or abnormal vaginal bleeding, especially if you are post-menopausal, unusual vaginal discharge or persistent pelvic pain or pain during sex, have it checked out by a health care provider.
These symptoms could be a sign of gynecologic cancers like cervical, ovarian, uterine or vaginal cancers.
Persistent headache
A headache that doesn’t respond to over-the-counter or prescribed pain medications and lasts more than two weeks should be assessed by a doctor. In addition, blurred or double vision, hearing changes, facial drooping, seizures or other neurological symptoms should be evaluated. These could be warning signs of a brain tumor or brain cancers.
Excessive bruising
If you have a lot of bruises in unusual places on your body that aren’t caused by injuries or from bumping into something, they could be a sign of certain blood cancers. See a doctor to get them checked.
Persistent fatigue
If your energy level has plummeted and, regardless of how much you sleep or relax, you just can’t seem to get your energy back, see a doctor to determine if this may be a sign of leukemia or lymphoma.
Be sure to note whether you also are experiencing muscle weakness or confusion, since this may indicate other types of cancers, which impact hormone levels or cause internal bleeding like colon or stomach cancer and may contribute to persistent fatigue.
If you’re interested in getting screened for cancer or if you’ve been diagnosed with cancer and want a second opinion, call us or chat online with a member of our team.
