Essential Cancer Signs That Might Surprise You

When it comes to detecting cancer, lumps in tissue are not the only sign to be aware of. Symptoms such as swelling in your neck, skin sores that won't heal, or unrelenting pain should also be examined.

It's important not to jump to conclusions about cancer, but the sooner you know what's wrong, the faster you and your healthcare provider can take appropriate action. Early detection is key to effective treatment and cancer screenings can be done at home or with a healthcare provider.

Doctors specializing in various malignancies have shared some little-known cancer symptoms to watch out for. For example, basal cell carcinomas in skin cancer can have a pearly or waxy appearance, or look like sores, scaly patches, or cyst-like bumps. An annoying lump-in-the-throat feeling could indicate the presence of a tumor, and lymphomas can cause extreme itchiness.

Other symptoms may be attributed to different conditions but could still be indicative of cancer. For example, referred otalgia, or ear pain that travels from nerves in the head or neck, could be a symptom of oral cancer. Spotting or irregular periods may signal the presence of endometrial cancer.

According to Stephen Rubin, MD, chief of the division of gynecologic oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, any abnormal bleeding should be promptly evaluated, especially after menopause (because bleeding after menopause isn't normal) or before menopause in those with risk factors for endometrial cancer, such as obesity.

Dr. Rubin mentioned that most endometrial cancers are diagnosed at stage 1 when they're 'highly curable.'

If you have a droopy upper eyelid, it could be a sign of aging, injury, or disease (like stroke). It can also alert healthcare providers to a so-called Pancoast tumor at the very top of your lung.

A Pancoast tumor, a type of lung cancer that begins in the upper part of a lung and spreads to nearby tissues such as the ribs and vertebrae, is often a non-small cell cancer.

The majority of lung cancers are caused by smoking, and being exposed to other cancer-causing agents like asbestos can increase the risk of developing lung cancer. The cough is not a typical early symptom of a Pancoast tumor. Instead, severe shoulder pain is usually one of the first signs. Additionally, some people develop Horner's syndrome, a triad of symptoms including a droopy eyelid, constricted pupil, and loss of sweating on the same side of the face.

Dr. Abirami Sivapiragasam, a medical oncologist and assistant professor at State University of New York Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, explains that because of its location in the tip, or apex, of the lung, a Pancoast tumor can irritate the nerve root to the eye and the face.

If there is a red, scaly patch of skin on a sun-exposed area of your body and it's still there eight weeks later, it could be a sign of squamous cell carcinoma. This type of skin cancer sometimes has a 'warty-looking' or 'dome-shaped' appearance and commonly appears on the head, neck, and back of the hands. Squamous cell carcinoma is almost always curable when caught early.

If there is blood in your stool, and it's not caused by a hemorrhoid, it is a classic sign of colorectal cancer, the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in the U.S. Anemia, which can make you tired, lightheaded, and dizzy, can be the first sign of this cancer because colorectal cancers can bleed into the digestive tract. Rectal bleeding may not be easy to detect as it tends to be microscopic bleeding. However, over time, blood loss can lead to low red blood cell counts.

If hoarseness persists after catching a bad cold, it should be evaluated promptly. Laryngeal cancer attacks tissues in the voice box (larynx) that house vocal cords. Other symptoms of this cancer include throat pain, ear pain, or a lump in the neck or throat. Cancer of the larynx can also spread to the thyroid, trachea (windpipe), or esophagus. If a person has these symptoms, it is essential to check with a healthcare provider.

Bloating and pelvic discomfort can be signs of ovarian cancer, although they are common complaints not specific to cancer. Ovarian cancer affects about 1.1 percent of people with ovaries over the course of their lifetime. If there is a family history of ovarian cancer, the risk for the disease may increase.

Although most lumps or swellings in the neck are swollen lymph nodes caused by bacterial or viral infections, cancer, or other rare causes, they should be checked right away by a healthcare provider to determine if they are potentially harmful. Lumps in the neck muscles can also be caused by an injury or torticollis, a condition in which neck muscles cause the head to tilt, turn, or rotate to the side. The swelling or lumps in the thyroid gland can be due to thyroid disease or cancer. While most lumps in the throat of adults are not cancerous, the risk of throat cancer increases with age and in people who smoke or drink large amounts of alcohol. All unusual breast changes (not just lumps) require immediate attention, including breast swelling or dimpling of the skin.

The types of breast cancer include ductal carcinoma, lobular carcinoma, inflammatory breast cancer, and Paget's disease of the breast.

Nipple crusting and discharge can also be signs of breast cancer. By discharge, we're not talking about breast milk. We're talking about other nipple discharge that can happen suddenly, be bloody, or happen only in one breast.

Skin changes affecting your nipple and areola can be easily mistaken for eczema or dermatitis. However, Paget's disease, a rare breast cancer, can also cause itching, tingling, flaking, and crusting of the skin, along with bloody or yellowish discharge.

Symptoms of Paget's disease of the breast can be found on the skin of the nipple and, usually, the darker circle of skin around it, called the areola:

'Eventually, if you don't address it, it can progress,' said Dr. Sivapiragasam.

Bone pain may be the result of an injury, infection, or osteoporosis. Or, it can be a sign of cancer.

Unexplained bone pain, especially in the spine, pelvis, and ribs, may be a symptom of multiple myeloma. Multiple myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells. Normal plasma cells are found in the bone marrow and are an important part of the immune system.

Bone or joint pain in people who have symptoms such as fever, fatigue, or weight loss can be a sign of leukemia, a type of blood and bone marrow cancer.

You can get a hangover from drinking large amounts of alcohol. But, in rare cases, unexplained pain after consuming alcohol suggests a diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma, a cancer that starts in white blood cells called lymphocytes. Lymphocytes are part of the body’s immune system.

A published case study describes a 31-year-old man who experienced severe pain moments after taking just two to three sips of alcohol. He'd had the same reaction for three months, with no pain after swallowing other liquids or food. A biopsy of a lymph node confirmed his diagnosis.

'Usually, these patients can have some swollen lymph nodes in the neck or the chest,' said Dr. Moskowitz. Alcohol consumption seems to induce pain in these lumps.

Hodgkin lymphoma can start almost anywhere in the body. The most common sites are the lymph nodes in the chest, neck, or under the arms.

Feeling like you need to pee all the time? Or all of a sudden? Urinary symptoms are common with urinary tract infections, overactive bladder, or type 2 diabetes. They can also occur with bladder cancer, which is the sixth most common cancer in the U.S.

As for blood in the urine, it can signal a nasty urinary tract infection that's traveled to the bladder. Or it can be a sign of a kidney stone. Less commonly, bloody urine is a symptom of bladder or kidney cancer.

Kidney cancer is one of the 10 most common cancers in the U.S. However, it is about twice as common in men than in women. The average age of people when they are diagnosed is 64 years. Kidney cancer is very uncommon in people younger than age 45.

Keep in mind that not every new symptom you experience will be cancer. Nonetheless, you should pay close attention to changes in your body and new symptoms, including pain.

Bring any changes to the attention of a healthcare provider. Healthcare providers can take a complete medical history, do a physical exam, or order diagnostic tests to determine what's going on. The sooner you see a healthcare provider, the sooner you can put your mind at ease and/or get appropriate treatment.

In addition, don't skip regular screenings. The importance of regular cancer screening cannot be understated. Some cancers can be found early, before they have had a chance to grow and spread.

Some symptoms, such as a lump in the breast or suspicious moles, create a sense of urgency in us as they can be warning signs of cancer. The only way to know for sure what they are is to see a healthcare provider.

Any new or unfamiliar symptoms—from swelling in your neck, ear pain, or skin sores—warrant a visit to a healthcare provider. Whether the symptom is cancer or not, the sooner you get diagnosed, the quicker you and a healthcare provider can take appropriate action.