Cancer is a deeply complex and confusing subject, especially for average people who don’t have any medical experience or oncology knowledge. If you browse public facing platforms that offer medical information, you can discover all kinds of important details about cancer, including the types of cancer that exist, risk factors for cancer, and symptoms of cancer.
But that last point can be a little troubling. After reading a few articles about different types of cancer, you might come to discover that you have many symptoms of cancer – even though you feel perfectly healthy otherwise.
That’s because there are hundreds, if not thousands, of little indicators that could suggest the presence of cancer, and it’s hard to distinguish between them and other, very similar symptoms from other diseases.
Why does it seem like literally anything and everything can be a cancer symptom?
And what should you do about it?
An Example: Mesothelioma Symptoms
The symptoms of mesothelioma, a specific and rare type of cancer, can include obvious signs like fluid buildup in the pleura (the membranes that envelop the lungs). But it can also include subtler, seemingly innocuous symptoms like coughing, stomach pains, and chest pain.
If a doctor recognizes pleural buildup, and you know you’ve been exposed to asbestos in the past, a mesothelioma diagnosis is pretty straightforward. But if you go to see a doctor for a mild cough, mesothelioma is going to be the last thing on their minds.
A similar dynamic exists for many other types of cancer. There are some signs that are capable of severely impacting your health and other signs that have almost no effect. There are some signs that serve as hallmark signatures of cancer and other signs that could be associated with a wide range of diseases, or no disease at all.
Why It Seems Like Everything Can Be a Cancer Symptom
Why is this the case?
- Cancer isn’t a singular disease. There are no fewer than 120 different types and subtypes of cancer. Cancer can affect almost any part of your body, and it can manifest in a variety of different ways. On top of that, it can affect different people in different ways, meaning two people with identical forms of cancer can still have very different symptoms. Researchers want to be as thorough as possible, so they list all possible symptoms for all known varieties of cancer; the result is a truly exhaustive list that has considerable overlap with other diseases.
- Signs typically start emerging subtly. It’s important to catch cancer as early as possible, but unfortunately, the earliest signs of cancer are often the least noticeable and most subtle. A vague ache in a specific part of your body or a mild cough could be the first indication. Obviously, this doesn’t mean that these signs mean you have cancer – but it pays to be prudent, so these symptoms must be acknowledged and mentioned.
- Access to knowledge leads to false perceptions. Also, it’s important to recognize that we live in an era with practically unlimited access to information. Unfortunately, this abundant information access has led many people to start self-diagnosing in irresponsible ways. Most doctors won’t even consider running cancer diagnostics unless you have several clear symptoms and an appropriate risk profile. If you have a couple of mild symptoms that are sometimes associated with cancer, it’s probably not worth worrying about.
When to See a Doctor
So, at what point should you be concerned about potential cancer symptoms?
In other words, when should you see a doctor?
This is a personal decision, but you should keep the following in mind:
- Personal risk factors. Some people are at higher risk of developing cancer than others. The higher your risk profile is, the more seriously you should take your symptoms.
- Reasonable explanations. Are there any reasonable explanations for the symptoms you’re suffering? For example, if you experience a headache immediately after cutting caffeine out of your diet, it’s probably not a sign of brain cancer.
- Severity. You also need to consider the severity of your symptoms. Most of us experience things like headaches, stomachaches, coughs, and fatigue from time to time. If these symptoms are mild, they may require no intervention.
- Persistence. Persistence is arguably even more important to consider. If you have a weird cough for a day or two, it’s probably no big deal. If it won’t go away after a month, it’s important to see a professional.
It’s true that cancer can have a seemingly infinite range of potential symptoms, and that many of these symptoms are associated with other diseases as well. Even so, it’s important to be on the lookout for potential signs of cancer development, and it’s important to see a doctor if you have any legitimate concerns about your health.
