Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFrequent SymptomsRare SymptomsSub-Groups and ComplicationsWhen to See a Healthcare ProviderA Word From VerywellFrequently Asked QuestionsNext in Cancer GuideCauses and Risk Factors of Cancer
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Frequent Symptoms
Rare Symptoms
Sub-Groups and Complications
When to See a Healthcare Provider
A Word From Verywell
Frequently Asked Questions
Next in Cancer Guide
Reviewingcancersymptoms can be surprising—and worrying. While there are several common symptoms of cancer, there are few that arespecificto this group of diseases. Aside from those you may immediately associate with cancer (e.g., a breast lump or skin changes), symptoms such as bloating, persistent cough, and others can also occur. Of course, these vague symptoms may also indicate something else entirely.
Recognizing theearly symptoms of cancercan help you have the best chance for early detection and effective treatment.
SDI Productions / Getty Images
While it’s important to remember that each of the most common symptoms of cancer can have other causes, it’s best to talk to your healthcare provider about any that you experience.
These are the 14 most common symptoms of cancer:
Your gut feeling can be an important “early symptom” of cancer. Upon learning of theirdiagnosis of cancer, many people state that they knew something was wrong. A large 2016studyconfirmed this finding, at least with colorectal cancer. The third most commonly reported symptom prior to diagnosis was “feeling different.”
Some of these symptoms are specific to certain types of cancer, while others may occur in several types.
How Mouth Cancer Looks
Unexplained Weight Loss
Unintentional weight loss is defined as the loss of 5% of body weight over a six- to 12-month period without trying. This is equivalent to a 130-pound woman losing 6 or 7 pounds, or a 200-pound man losing roughly 10 pounds of weight. Though many people may welcome dropping a few pounds, it’s important to see your healthcare provider if you do unexpectedly lose weight.
Cancer is the cause of unintentional weight loss at least 25% of the time.While weight loss is more likely to occur in advanced cancers, it can occur in early-stage cancers as well.
Cancer can cause weight loss in several ways:
The syndrome ofcancer cachexia, which includes weight loss as well as muscle wasting, is not only a symptom of cancer but is considered the direct cause of death in up to 20% of people with cancer.
Why Unexplained Weight Loss Is Concerning
Lumps and Bumps
A lump or thickening anywhere on your body that does not have an explanation is an important first symptom of cancer.
Breast lumpscould be cancer but could also easily be benign breast cysts or fibroadenomas. There areless common signs of breast canceras well, and symptoms such as redness, thickening, or an orange-peel appearance to the breast should be addressed.
It’s important to see your healthcare provider if you haveanychanges in your breast tissue, even if you’ve had a normal mammogram. Mammograms miss around 20% of breast cancers.
Testicular lumpsmay be a symptom of testicular cancer, and just as women are encouraged to do monthly self-breast exams, men are encouraged to do monthlytesticular self-exams.
Enlargedlymph nodesmay be the first sign of cancer—especially lymphomas—and can occur in many regions of the body. In fact, enlarged lymph nodes are one of thekey warning signs of lymphoma.
Night Sweats
Night sweats are a common symptom of cancer, especially leukemias and lymphomas.Night sweats that occur with cancer are not simply “hot flashes.” They are often drenching to the point that people need to get out of bed and change their pajamas, sometimes repeatedly. Unlike hot flashes, which may occur at any time of the day or night, night sweats are more common when sleeping.
Night Sweats and Cancer
Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding
Abnormal vaginal bleeding can be a sign of cancer but certainly has many benign causes as well. Abnormal bleeding can take many forms, including:
Cancers of the uterus, cervix, and vagina may cause bleeding directly related to a tumor.Hormonal changes due to cancers, such as ovarian cancer, may also cause changes in your menstrual cycle.
Every woman is different, and the most important symptoms are those that representa changein what is normal for you.
Changes in Bowel Habits
If you experiencechanges in your bowel movements, whether in color, consistency, or frequency, talk to your healthcare provider. Symptoms of colon cancer can range from diarrhea to constipation, but what is most concerning is something that is out of the norm for you.
Rectal Bleeding
If you seeblood in your stoolyou will likely be worried, but as with other possible cancer symptoms, there are many benign causes as well.
The color of the blood is sometimes useful in determining the origin of the blood (but not the cause). Bleeding from the lower colon (left colon) and rectum is often bright red. That from the upper colon (right colon) and small intestine is often dark red, brown, or black. And blood from higher up, for example, the esophagus or stomach, is very dark and often resembles coffee grounds.
Other causes of rectal bleeding include hemorrhoids, anal fissures, and colitis, but an important point to note is that—even if you have these other conditions—it does not mean that you don’t also have colon cancer. In fact, some types of colitis are a risk factor for colon cancer.
If you have this symptom, make sure to see your healthcare provider even if you think there is a reasonable cause.
Persistent Cough
Apersistent coughmay be a symptom oflung cancer; roughly half of people with the disease have a chronic cough at the time of diagnosis.It could also be a sign of a cancer that has spread to the lungs, such as breast cancer, colon cancer, kidney cancer, or prostate cancer.
Shortness of Breath
Shortness of breath is one of the leading early symptoms of lung cancer.While you may associate lung cancer with a chronic cough, the most common symptoms of lung cancer have changed over time.
A few decades ago the most common types of the disease tended to grow near the large airways in the lungs; a location that frequently caused a cough and coughing up blood. Today, the most common form of lung cancer—lung adenocarcinoma—tends to grow in the outer regions of the lungs. These tumors can grow quite large before they are detected, and often cause shortness of breath with activity as their first symptom.
Other Possible Causes of Shortness of Breath
Chest, Abdominal, Pelvic, Back, or Head Pain
Pain occurring anywhere in your body could be a possible symptom of cancer. If you have any unexplained pain that persists, especially pain you would describe as a deep ache, talk to your healthcare provider.
Head Pain
Headaches are the most commonsymptom of brain canceror tumors that have spread (metastasized) to the brain, but certainly most headaches are not due to cancer.
The classicheadache due to a brain tumoris severe, at its worst in the morning, and progresses over time. These headaches may worsen with activities such as coughing or bearing down for a bowel movement, and may occur on one side only. People with a headache related to a brain tumor frequently have other symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting, weakness of one side of the body, or new-onset seizures. However, brain tumors can also cause headaches that are indistinguishable from a tension headache, and may be the only sign that a tumor is present.
Cancer spread to the brain (brain metastases) are seven times more common than primary brain tumors and cause similar symptoms. Cancers most likely to spread to the brain include breast cancer, lung cancer,bladder cancer, and melanoma.It’s not uncommon for people with brain metastases, especially those with small cell lung cancer, to have symptoms related to a tumor in the brain before they have symptoms due to the primary cancer.
Back Pain
The most common cause of back pain is a back strain, but back pain that persists and doesn’t have an obvious cause could be a symptom of cancer as well. Back pain related to cancer is often (but not always) worse at night, does not improve when you lie down, and may worsen with a deep breath or during bowel movements.
Shoulder Pain
Pain that is felt in the shoulders or shoulder blades can easily be due to a muscle strain, but it can also be an important early symptom of cancer. Referred pain fromlung cancer, breast cancer, and lymphomas, as well as metastases from other cancers, may cause aching in the shoulders orshoulder blade pain.
Chest Pain
There are many causes of chest pain, with heart disease often being a prime suspect. Unexplained chest pain can be a symptom of cancer as well.Though the lung does not have nerve endings, pain that feels like “lung pain” is present in a large number of people who are diagnosed with lung cancer.
Abdominal or Pelvic Pain
As with pain in other regions of the body, abdominal pain andpelvic painare most often associated with conditions other than cancer. One of the difficulties with pain in the abdomen and pelvis, however, is that it’s often hard to determine where the pain begins.
What to Know About Breakthrough Pain
Fatigue
Unlike ordinary tiredness,cancer fatigueis often much more persistent and disabling. Some people describe this tiredness as “total body tiredness” or exhaustion. It’s not something you can push through with a good night of rest or a strong cup of coffee. The hallmark of this kind of fatigue is that it significantly interferes with your life.
There are many ways in which cancer can cause fatigue. The growth of a tumor, in general, can be taxing for your body. Other symptoms of cancer such as shortness of breath, anemia, pain, or a decreased level of oxygen in your blood (hypoxia) can cause fatigue as well.
If you find that fatigue is disrupting your normal activities, make sure to talk to your healthcare provider.
Skin Changes
There are many types of “skin changes” that could be a symptom of skin cancer. Some of these include new spots on your skin (no matter the color), a sore that does not heal, or a change in a mole or freckle.
While skin cancers such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are more common, melanoma is responsible for the majority of deaths from skin cancer.
Familiarize yourself with the ABCDEs of melanoma, which cover aspects of skin changes (asymmetry, borders, diameter, and more) that may indicate skin cancer. Though a less-than-clinical distinction, many experts note that even something you consider “funny looking” could be a sign of skin cancer.
ABCDEs of Melanoma
Bloating (Abdominal Distension)
Abdominal swelling or bloatingmay be a first symptom of several cancers, including ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, and colon cancer.
You may feel a fullness in your abdomen, or may note that your clothes are tighter around the middle even though you haven’t gained weight.
Ovarian cancer has been coined the “silent killer” as symptoms often occur late in the disease, and then are frequently dismissed as due to something else.
It’s been found that bloating is a common symptom of ovarian cancer, but women often attribute this symptom to weight gain or other causes. Likewise, constipation, pain with intercourse, constipation, and frequent urination can be symptoms of ovarian cancer, but are often first attributed to other causes.
If you notice any of these symptoms, talk to your healthcare provider. Ovarian cancer can be treatable when caught early.
Blood in Urine
Blood in your urinecan bea symptom of bladder cancer. Even a slight pink tinge to your urine warrants a visit to your healthcare provider. This is extra important if you have a history of smoking, as the habit is responsible for at least half of bladder cancer cases.
Difficulty Swallowing
Difficulty swallowing, also known as dysphagia, can be a symptom of cancer. It is often the first symptom of esophageal cancer due to narrowing of the esophagus.
Since the esophagus travels through the area between the lungs (called themediastinum), tumors in this region such as lung cancer and lymphomas often cause this symptom as well.
Why Swallowing Difficulties Can Occur
There are several less common, but no less important symptoms that may alert you to the presence of a cancer. Some of these include:
For example, some lung cancers produce a hormone-like substance that raises the calcium level in the blood. Symptoms ofhypercalcemia(high blood calcium), such as muscle aches, may, therefore, be the first symptom of cancer.
It’s important not to dismiss symptoms due to a lack of risk factors. For example, breast cancerdoesoccur in men, as well as many women without a family history of the disease. Lung cancerdoesoccur in people who have never smoked. And colon cancerdoesoccur in young men and women.
If you have any symptoms, don’t ignore them, even if you have no risk factors or family history of cancer and have lived a healthy lifestyle.
People with existing conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, chronic pulmonary diseases, psychiatric disorders, and dementia often have adifferent course of cancer detectionand treatment, as well as more postoperative complications and a higher mortality. In some conditions, there is earlier detection because you are visiting your healthcare provider frequently. In others, especially psychiatric conditions, people may delay getting a diagnosis.
Various conditions may mean that healthcare providers are reluctant to do aggressive cancer treatment because your health is already fragile and you might not tolerate surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy. The cancer drugs might interact with the medications you are taking for your other condition. Your other condition might become worse, and this can make it difficult to complete cancer treatment.
For example, if you have lung disease, chemotherapy can result in lung inflammation and worsen your symptoms. Steroids and side effects of cancer treatment can affect blood glucose control in diabetes.In addition, with many conditions, you will have a slower recovery if you receive cancer treatment.
There are very few symptoms that specifically mean cancer, so it’s hard to know when you should be concerned. Any symptom that is new to you; that you have been living with, but is unexplained; and any change in bowel, bladder, or menstrual habits that is out of the ordinary for you is worth discussing with your healthcare provider.
Oftentimes, these symptoms turn out to be related to conditions other than cancer. But confirming that is essential to avoiding missing an early diagnosis.
Despite the importance of addressing cancer symptoms, many people delay talking to their healthcare providers. For example, a 2016 study found that the median time between noting symptoms of lung cancer and the eventual diagnosis was 12 months.People delay going to their healthcare providers for several reasons, including denial, fear of the diagnosis, or fear of being labeled a “complainer” or “hypochondriac.”
If you note any symptoms, make sure to consciously admit the symptom to yourself and share your concern with a loved one you trust. Your healthcare providerwantsyou to bring up any unusual symptoms, and itcanmake a difference if cancer is found early.
Finding cancer early may increase survival rates and can minimize the extent of treatment needed. Even when cancers have progressed to a point in which they are no longer treatable, they can often be managed. People are living longer than ever with cancer, as the 18 million cancer survivors in the United States alone show.
If you have any of the cancer symptoms noted above—or any symptomsnotlisted for that matter—talk to your healthcare provider. At times it may be hard to determine the precise cause of a symptom. Be persistent. Symptoms are your body’s way of telling you that something is wrong. If you aren’t getting answers, ask for a referral or get a second opinion. Nobody knows your body or what is normal for you better than you do, and nobody else is as motivated to make sure it stays healthy.
Any number of conditions can cause tumors, growths, and masses in soft tissue or bone that resemble cancer. Among the most common are:
Causes and Risk Factors of Cancer
28 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Baicus C, Rimbas M, Baicus A, Caraiola S.Cancer and involuntary weight loss: failure to validate a prediction score.PLoS ONE.2014;9(4):e95286. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0095286InformedHealth.org.Colorectal cancer: Overview. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).Porporato PE.Understanding cachexia as a cancer metabolism syndrome.Oncogenesis. 2016;5:e200. doi:10.1038/oncsis.2016.3American Cancer Society.Limitations of Mammograms.American Cancer Society.Signs and Symptoms of Hodgkin Lymphoma.Sathyanarayan V, Bharani SK.Enlarged lymph nodes in head and neck cancer: Analysis with triplex ultrasonography.Ann Maxillofac Surg.2013;3(1):35-9. doi:10.4103/2231-0746.110077Howell DA, Warburton F, Ramirez AJ, Roman E, Smith AG, Forbes LJ.Risk factors and time to symptomatic presentation in leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma.Br J Cancer.2015;113(7):1114-20. doi:10.1038/bjc.2015.311Kaunitz AM.Patient education: Abnormal uterine bleeding (Beyond the Basics). UpToDate.Lakatos PL, Lakatos L.Risk for colorectal cancer in ulcerative colitis: changes, causes and management strategies.World J Gastroenterol.2008;14(25):3937-47. doi:10.3748/wjg.14.3937Molassiotis A, Smith JA, Mazzone P, Blackhall F, Irwin RS.Symptomatic Treatment of Cough Among Adult Patients With Lung Cancer: CHEST Guideline and Expert Panel Report.Chest. 2017;151(4):861-874. doi:10.1016/j.chest.2016.12.028American Cancer Society.Signs and Symptoms of Lung Cancer.American Cancer Society.Signs and Symptoms of Adult Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors.Owonikoko TK, Arbiser J, Zelnak A, et al.Current approaches to the treatment of metastatic brain tumours.Nat Rev Clin Oncol.2014;11(4):203-22. doi:10.1038/nrclinonc.2014.25Mabry LM, Ross MD, Tonarelli JM.Metastatic cancer mimicking mechanical low back pain: a case report.J Man Manip Ther.2014;22(3):162-9. doi:10.1179/2042618613Y.0000000056Narayanan V, Koshy C.Fatigue in cancer: a review of literature.Indian J Palliat Care.2009;15(1):19-25. doi:10.4103/0973-1075.53507Office of the Surgeon General. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.Surgeon General Call to Action to Prevent Skin Cancer: Exec Summary.Jelovac D, Armstrong DK.Recent progress in the diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer.CA Cancer J Clin.2011;61(3):183-203. doi:10.3322/caac.20113Freedman ND, Silverman DT, Hollenbeck AR, Schatzkin A, Abnet CC.Association between smoking and risk of bladder cancer among men and women.JAMA. 2011;306(7):737-45. doi:10.1001/jama.2011.1142Ramakrishnaiah VP, Malage S, Sreenath GS, Kotlapati S, Cyriac S.Palliation of Dysphagia in Carcinoma Esophagus.Clin Med Insights Gastroenterol. 2016;9:11-23. doi:10.4137/CGast.S30303Elyamany G, Alzahrani AM, Bukhary E.Cancer-associated thrombosis: an overview.Clin Med Insights Oncol.2014;8:129-37. doi:10.4137/CMO.S18991Kenner BJ.Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer: The Role of Depression and Anxiety as a Precursor for Disease.Pancreas. 2018;47(4):363-367. doi:10.1097/MPA.0000000000001024Prabhu SR, Wilson DF.Human papillomavirus and oral disease - emerging evidence: a review.Aust Dent J.2013;58(1):2-10. doi:10.1111/adj.12020Goldner W.Cancer-Related Hypercalcemia.J Oncol Pract.2016;12(5):426-32. doi:10.1200/JOP.2016.011155Hershey DS, Hession S.Chemotherapy and Glycemic Control in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Cancer: A Comparative Case Analysis.Asia Pac J Oncol Nurs. 2017;4(3):224-232. doi:10.4103/apjon.apjon_22_17Hamilton W, Walter FM, Rubin G, Neal RD.Improving early diagnosis of symptomatic cancer.Nat Rev Clin Oncol.2016;13(12):740-749. doi:10.1038/nrclinonc.2016.109Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Cancer: Screening tests.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Early cancer warning signs: 5 symptoms you shouldn’t ignore.Cleveland Clinic.Conditions Which Can be Mistaken for Tumors.Additional ReadingAmerican Cancer Society.Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Facts and Figures.Hamilton W, Walter F, Rubin G, Neal R.Improving Early Diagnosis of Symptomatic Cancer.Nature Reviews: Clinical Oncology.Søgaard M, Thomsen RW, Bossen KS, Sørensen HT, Nørgaard M.The Impact of Comorbidity on Cancer Survival: a Review.Clin Epidemiol. 2013;5(Suppl 1):3–29. doi:10.2147/CLEP.S47150Walter F, Emery J, Mendonca S, et al.Symptoms and Patient Factors Associated with Longer Time to Diagnosis for Colorectal Cancer: Results From a Prospective Cohort Study.British Journal of Cancer. 2016 Aug 4.doi:10.1038%2Fbjc.2016.221Zeichner S, Montero A.Detecting Cancer: Pearls for the Primary Care Physician.Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine. 2016. 83(7):515-23. doi:10.3949/ccjm.83a.15124
28 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Baicus C, Rimbas M, Baicus A, Caraiola S.Cancer and involuntary weight loss: failure to validate a prediction score.PLoS ONE.2014;9(4):e95286. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0095286InformedHealth.org.Colorectal cancer: Overview. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).Porporato PE.Understanding cachexia as a cancer metabolism syndrome.Oncogenesis. 2016;5:e200. doi:10.1038/oncsis.2016.3American Cancer Society.Limitations of Mammograms.American Cancer Society.Signs and Symptoms of Hodgkin Lymphoma.Sathyanarayan V, Bharani SK.Enlarged lymph nodes in head and neck cancer: Analysis with triplex ultrasonography.Ann Maxillofac Surg.2013;3(1):35-9. doi:10.4103/2231-0746.110077Howell DA, Warburton F, Ramirez AJ, Roman E, Smith AG, Forbes LJ.Risk factors and time to symptomatic presentation in leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma.Br J Cancer.2015;113(7):1114-20. doi:10.1038/bjc.2015.311Kaunitz AM.Patient education: Abnormal uterine bleeding (Beyond the Basics). UpToDate.Lakatos PL, Lakatos L.Risk for colorectal cancer in ulcerative colitis: changes, causes and management strategies.World J Gastroenterol.2008;14(25):3937-47. doi:10.3748/wjg.14.3937Molassiotis A, Smith JA, Mazzone P, Blackhall F, Irwin RS.Symptomatic Treatment of Cough Among Adult Patients With Lung Cancer: CHEST Guideline and Expert Panel Report.Chest. 2017;151(4):861-874. doi:10.1016/j.chest.2016.12.028American Cancer Society.Signs and Symptoms of Lung Cancer.American Cancer Society.Signs and Symptoms of Adult Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors.Owonikoko TK, Arbiser J, Zelnak A, et al.Current approaches to the treatment of metastatic brain tumours.Nat Rev Clin Oncol.2014;11(4):203-22. doi:10.1038/nrclinonc.2014.25Mabry LM, Ross MD, Tonarelli JM.Metastatic cancer mimicking mechanical low back pain: a case report.J Man Manip Ther.2014;22(3):162-9. doi:10.1179/2042618613Y.0000000056Narayanan V, Koshy C.Fatigue in cancer: a review of literature.Indian J Palliat Care.2009;15(1):19-25. doi:10.4103/0973-1075.53507Office of the Surgeon General. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.Surgeon General Call to Action to Prevent Skin Cancer: Exec Summary.Jelovac D, Armstrong DK.Recent progress in the diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer.CA Cancer J Clin.2011;61(3):183-203. doi:10.3322/caac.20113Freedman ND, Silverman DT, Hollenbeck AR, Schatzkin A, Abnet CC.Association between smoking and risk of bladder cancer among men and women.JAMA. 2011;306(7):737-45. doi:10.1001/jama.2011.1142Ramakrishnaiah VP, Malage S, Sreenath GS, Kotlapati S, Cyriac S.Palliation of Dysphagia in Carcinoma Esophagus.Clin Med Insights Gastroenterol. 2016;9:11-23. doi:10.4137/CGast.S30303Elyamany G, Alzahrani AM, Bukhary E.Cancer-associated thrombosis: an overview.Clin Med Insights Oncol.2014;8:129-37. doi:10.4137/CMO.S18991Kenner BJ.Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer: The Role of Depression and Anxiety as a Precursor for Disease.Pancreas. 2018;47(4):363-367. doi:10.1097/MPA.0000000000001024Prabhu SR, Wilson DF.Human papillomavirus and oral disease - emerging evidence: a review.Aust Dent J.2013;58(1):2-10. doi:10.1111/adj.12020Goldner W.Cancer-Related Hypercalcemia.J Oncol Pract.2016;12(5):426-32. doi:10.1200/JOP.2016.011155Hershey DS, Hession S.Chemotherapy and Glycemic Control in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Cancer: A Comparative Case Analysis.Asia Pac J Oncol Nurs. 2017;4(3):224-232. doi:10.4103/apjon.apjon_22_17Hamilton W, Walter FM, Rubin G, Neal RD.Improving early diagnosis of symptomatic cancer.Nat Rev Clin Oncol.2016;13(12):740-749. doi:10.1038/nrclinonc.2016.109Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Cancer: Screening tests.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Early cancer warning signs: 5 symptoms you shouldn’t ignore.Cleveland Clinic.Conditions Which Can be Mistaken for Tumors.Additional ReadingAmerican Cancer Society.Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Facts and Figures.Hamilton W, Walter F, Rubin G, Neal R.Improving Early Diagnosis of Symptomatic Cancer.Nature Reviews: Clinical Oncology.Søgaard M, Thomsen RW, Bossen KS, Sørensen HT, Nørgaard M.The Impact of Comorbidity on Cancer Survival: a Review.Clin Epidemiol. 2013;5(Suppl 1):3–29. doi:10.2147/CLEP.S47150Walter F, Emery J, Mendonca S, et al.Symptoms and Patient Factors Associated with Longer Time to Diagnosis for Colorectal Cancer: Results From a Prospective Cohort Study.British Journal of Cancer. 2016 Aug 4.doi:10.1038%2Fbjc.2016.221Zeichner S, Montero A.Detecting Cancer: Pearls for the Primary Care Physician.Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine. 2016. 83(7):515-23. doi:10.3949/ccjm.83a.15124
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Baicus C, Rimbas M, Baicus A, Caraiola S.Cancer and involuntary weight loss: failure to validate a prediction score.PLoS ONE.2014;9(4):e95286. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0095286InformedHealth.org.Colorectal cancer: Overview. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).Porporato PE.Understanding cachexia as a cancer metabolism syndrome.Oncogenesis. 2016;5:e200. doi:10.1038/oncsis.2016.3American Cancer Society.Limitations of Mammograms.American Cancer Society.Signs and Symptoms of Hodgkin Lymphoma.Sathyanarayan V, Bharani SK.Enlarged lymph nodes in head and neck cancer: Analysis with triplex ultrasonography.Ann Maxillofac Surg.2013;3(1):35-9. doi:10.4103/2231-0746.110077Howell DA, Warburton F, Ramirez AJ, Roman E, Smith AG, Forbes LJ.Risk factors and time to symptomatic presentation in leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma.Br J Cancer.2015;113(7):1114-20. doi:10.1038/bjc.2015.311Kaunitz AM.Patient education: Abnormal uterine bleeding (Beyond the Basics). UpToDate.Lakatos PL, Lakatos L.Risk for colorectal cancer in ulcerative colitis: changes, causes and management strategies.World J Gastroenterol.2008;14(25):3937-47. doi:10.3748/wjg.14.3937Molassiotis A, Smith JA, Mazzone P, Blackhall F, Irwin RS.Symptomatic Treatment of Cough Among Adult Patients With Lung Cancer: CHEST Guideline and Expert Panel Report.Chest. 2017;151(4):861-874. doi:10.1016/j.chest.2016.12.028American Cancer Society.Signs and Symptoms of Lung Cancer.American Cancer Society.Signs and Symptoms of Adult Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors.Owonikoko TK, Arbiser J, Zelnak A, et al.Current approaches to the treatment of metastatic brain tumours.Nat Rev Clin Oncol.2014;11(4):203-22. doi:10.1038/nrclinonc.2014.25Mabry LM, Ross MD, Tonarelli JM.Metastatic cancer mimicking mechanical low back pain: a case report.J Man Manip Ther.2014;22(3):162-9. doi:10.1179/2042618613Y.0000000056Narayanan V, Koshy C.Fatigue in cancer: a review of literature.Indian J Palliat Care.2009;15(1):19-25. doi:10.4103/0973-1075.53507Office of the Surgeon General. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.Surgeon General Call to Action to Prevent Skin Cancer: Exec Summary.Jelovac D, Armstrong DK.Recent progress in the diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer.CA Cancer J Clin.2011;61(3):183-203. doi:10.3322/caac.20113Freedman ND, Silverman DT, Hollenbeck AR, Schatzkin A, Abnet CC.Association between smoking and risk of bladder cancer among men and women.JAMA. 2011;306(7):737-45. doi:10.1001/jama.2011.1142Ramakrishnaiah VP, Malage S, Sreenath GS, Kotlapati S, Cyriac S.Palliation of Dysphagia in Carcinoma Esophagus.Clin Med Insights Gastroenterol. 2016;9:11-23. doi:10.4137/CGast.S30303Elyamany G, Alzahrani AM, Bukhary E.Cancer-associated thrombosis: an overview.Clin Med Insights Oncol.2014;8:129-37. doi:10.4137/CMO.S18991Kenner BJ.Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer: The Role of Depression and Anxiety as a Precursor for Disease.Pancreas. 2018;47(4):363-367. doi:10.1097/MPA.0000000000001024Prabhu SR, Wilson DF.Human papillomavirus and oral disease - emerging evidence: a review.Aust Dent J.2013;58(1):2-10. doi:10.1111/adj.12020Goldner W.Cancer-Related Hypercalcemia.J Oncol Pract.2016;12(5):426-32. doi:10.1200/JOP.2016.011155Hershey DS, Hession S.Chemotherapy and Glycemic Control in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Cancer: A Comparative Case Analysis.Asia Pac J Oncol Nurs. 2017;4(3):224-232. doi:10.4103/apjon.apjon_22_17Hamilton W, Walter FM, Rubin G, Neal RD.Improving early diagnosis of symptomatic cancer.Nat Rev Clin Oncol.2016;13(12):740-749. doi:10.1038/nrclinonc.2016.109Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Cancer: Screening tests.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Early cancer warning signs: 5 symptoms you shouldn’t ignore.Cleveland Clinic.Conditions Which Can be Mistaken for Tumors.
Baicus C, Rimbas M, Baicus A, Caraiola S.Cancer and involuntary weight loss: failure to validate a prediction score.PLoS ONE.2014;9(4):e95286. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0095286
InformedHealth.org.Colorectal cancer: Overview. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).
Porporato PE.Understanding cachexia as a cancer metabolism syndrome.Oncogenesis. 2016;5:e200. doi:10.1038/oncsis.2016.3
American Cancer Society.Limitations of Mammograms.
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