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What are signs and symptoms?
A symptom
is a signal of disease, illness, injury, or that something is not right
in the body. Symptoms are felt or noticed by the person who has them,
but may not be easily seen by anyone else. For example, chills,
weakness, aches, and feeling short of breath may be symptoms of
pneumonia.
A sign is also a signal that something is not right in the
body. But signs are signals that can be seen by a doctor, nurse, or
other health care professional. Fever, fast breathing, and abnormal
breathing sounds heard through a stethoscope may be signs of pneumonia.
Having one symptom or sign may not be enough to figure out
what's causing it. For example, a rash in a child could be a sign of a
number of things, such as poison ivy, an infectious disease like
measles, a skin infection, or a food allergy. But if the child has the
rash along with other signs and symptoms like a high fever, chills,
achiness, and a sore throat, then a doctor can get a better picture of
the illness. In many cases, a patient's signs and symptoms alone do not
give the doctor enough clues to figure out the cause of an illness.
Then medical tests, such as x-rays, blood tests, or a biopsy may be
needed.
How does cancer cause signs and symptoms?
Cancer is a group of diseases that may cause almost any sign
or symptom. The signs and symptoms will depend on where the cancer is,
how big it is, and how much it affects nearby organs or tissues. If a
cancer has spread (metastasized), symptoms may appear in different
parts of the body.
As a cancer grows, it can begin to push on nearby organs,
blood vessels, and nerves. This pressure creates some of the signs and
symptoms of cancer. If the cancer is in a critical area, such as
certain parts of the brain, even the smallest tumor can cause early
symptoms.
But sometimes cancer starts in places where it will not cause
any symptoms until it has grown quite large. Pancreas cancers, for
example, do not usually grow large enough to be felt from the outside
of the body. Some pancreatic cancers do not cause symptoms until they
begin to grow around nearby nerves (this causes a backache). Others
grow around the bile duct and block the flow of bile. This causes a
yellowing of the eyes and skin called jaundice. By the time a
pancreatic cancer causes these signs or symptoms, it is usually in an
advanced stage. This means it has grown and spread beyond the place it
started – the pancreas.
A cancer may also cause symptoms like fever, extreme tiredness
(fatigue), or weight loss. This may be because cancer cells use up much
of the body’s energy supply, or they may release substances
that change the way the body makes energy from food. Or the cancer may
cause the immune system to react in ways that produce these symptoms.
Sometimes, cancer cells release substances into the
bloodstream that cause symptoms which are not usually linked to cancer.
For example, some cancers of the pancreas can release substances which
cause blood clots in veins of the legs. Some lung cancers make
hormone-like substances that raise blood calcium levels. This affects
nerves and muscles, making the person feel weak and dizzy.
How are signs and symptoms helpful?
Treatment is most successful when cancer is found as early as
possible. Finding cancer early usually means it can be treated while it
is still small and is less likely to have spread to other parts of the
body. This often means a better chance for a cure, especially if the
cancer can be removed with surgery.
A good example of the importance of finding cancer early is
melanoma skin cancer. Skin cancer can be easy to remove if it has not
grown deep into the skin. The 5-year survival rate (percentage of
people living at least 5 years after diagnosis) at this stage is nearly
100%. Once melanoma has spread to other parts of the body, the 5-year
survival rate drops below 20%.
Sometimes people ignore symptoms. They may not know that
symptoms could mean something is wrong. Or they may be frightened by
what the symptoms might mean and don't want to get medical help. Some
symptoms, such as tiredness, are more likely to have a cause other than
cancer and can seem unimportant, especially if there is an obvious
cause or the problem only lasts a short time. In the same way, a person
may reason that a symptom like a breast lump is probably a cyst that
will go away by itself. But no symptom should be ignored or overlooked,
especially if it has been there for a long time or is getting worse.
Most likely, any symptoms you may have will not be caused by
cancer, but it’s important to have them checked out by a
doctor, just in case. If cancer is not the cause, a doctor can help
figure out what is and treat it, if needed.
Sometimes, it is possible to find cancer before you have
symptoms. The American Cancer Society and other health groups recommend
cancer-related check-ups and certain tests for people even though they
have no symptoms. This helps find certain cancers early, before
symptoms occur. For more information on early detection tests, see our
document, American Cancer Society
Guidelines for the Early Detection of Cancer.
But keep in mind, even if you have had these recommended tests, it is
still important to see a doctor if you have any symptoms.
General cancer signs and symptoms
You should know some of the general (non-specific) signs and
symptoms of cancer. But remember , having any of these does not mean
that you have cancer – many other things cause these signs
and symptoms, too.
Unexplained weight loss
Most people with cancer will lose weight at some point. An
unexplained weight loss of 10 pounds or more (when you're not trying to
lose weight) may be the first sign of cancer. This happens most often
with cancers of the pancreas, stomach, esophagus, or lung.
Fever
Fever is very common with cancer, but it more often happens
after cancer has spread from where it started. Almost all patients with
cancer will have fever at some time, especially if the cancer or its
treatment affects the immune system. This can make it harder for the
body to fight infection. Less often, fever may be an early sign of
cancer, such as blood cancers like leukemia or lymphoma.
Fatigue
Fatigue is extreme tiredness that does not get better with
rest. It may be an important symptom as cancer grows. It may happen
early, though, in cancers like leukemia, or if the cancer is causing
blood loss, which can happen with some colon or stomach cancers.
Pain
Pain may be an early symptom with some cancers such as bone
cancers or testicular cancer. A headache that does not go away or
respond to treatment may be a symptom of a brain tumor. Back pain can
be a symptom of cancer of the colon, rectum, or ovary. Most often, pain
that is linked to cancer is a symptom of cancer that has already
metastasized (spread from where it started).
Skin changes
Along with cancers of the skin (see the next section), some
other cancers can cause skin symptoms or signs that can be seen. These
signs and symptoms include:
- darker looking skin (hyperpigmentation)
- yellowish skin and eyes (jaundice)
- reddened skin (erythema)
- itching
- excessive hair growth
Signs and symptoms of certain cancers
Along with the general symptoms, you should watch for certain
other common symptoms and signs which could suggest cancer. Again,
there may be other causes for each of these, but it is important to see
a doctor about them as soon as possible.
Change in bowel habits or bladder function
Long-term constipation, diarrhea, or a change in the size of
the stool may be a sign of colon cancer. Pain when passing urine, blood
in the urine, or a change in bladder function (such as needing to pass
urine more or less often than usual) could be related to bladder or
prostate cancer. Any changes in bladder or bowel function should be
reported to a doctor.
Sores that do not heal
Skin cancers may bleed and look like sores that do not heal. A
long-lasting sore in the mouth could be an oral cancer and should be
dealt with right away, especially in people who smoke, chew tobacco, or
often drink alcohol. Sores on the penis or vagina may either be signs
of infection or an early cancer, and should not be ignored.
White patches inside the mouth or white
spots on the tongue
White patches inside the mouth and white spots on the tongue
may be leukoplakia. Leukoplakia is a pre-cancerous area that is caused
by ongoing irritation. It is often caused by smoking or other tobacco
use. People who smoke pipes or use oral or spit tobacco are at high
risk for developing leukoplakia. If it is not treated, leukoplakia can
become oral cancer. Any long-lasting mouth changes should be checked by
a doctor or dentist right away.
Unusual bleeding or discharge
Unusual bleeding can happen in early or advanced cancer. Blood
in the sputum (phlegm) may be a sign of lung cancer. Blood in the stool
(or a dark or black stool) could be a sign of colon or rectal cancer.
Cancer of the cervix or the endometrium (lining of the uterus) can
cause unusual vaginal bleeding. Blood in the urine may be a sign of
bladder or kidney cancer. A bloody discharge from the nipple may be a
sign of breast cancer.
Thickening or lump in the breast or other
parts of the body
Many cancers can be felt through the skin. These cancers occur
mostly in the breast, testicle, lymph nodes (glands), and the soft
tissues of the body. A lump or thickening may be an early or late sign
of cancer and should be reported to a doctor, especially if
you’ve just found it or notice it has grown in size.
Indigestion or trouble swallowing
While they most often are caused by other things, indigestion
or swallowing problems may be signs of cancer of the esophagus (the
swallowing tube that goes to the stomach), stomach, or pharynx
(throat).
Recent change in a wart or mole or any new
skin change
Any wart, mole, or freckle that changes color, size, or shape,
or loses its definite borders should be reported to a doctor right
away. Any new skin changes should be reported as well. A skin change
may be a melanoma which, if found early, can be treated successfully.
Nagging cough or hoarseness
A cough that does not go away may be a sign of lung cancer.
Hoarseness can be a sign of cancer of the larynx (voice box) or
thyroid.
Although the signs and symptoms listed are the ones more
commonly seen with cancer, there are many others that are less common
and are not listed here. If you notice any major changes in the way
your body works or the way you feel, especially if it lasts for a long
time or gets worse, let a doctor know. If it has nothing to do with
cancer, the doctor can find out more about what's going on and treat
it, if needed. If it is cancer, you'll give yourself the best chance to
have it treated early, when treatment is most likely to be effective.
Additional resources
More information from your American Cancer
Society
We have selected some related information that may also be
helpful to you. These materials may be viewed on our Web site or
ordered from our toll-free number.
- After Diagnosis: A Guide for Patients and Families (also
available in Spanish)
- Is Cancer Contagious? (also available in Spanish)
- Understanding Your Lab Test Results
National organizations and Web sites*
Along with the American Cancer Society, other sources of
patient information and support include:
CancerCare
Toll-free number: 1-800-813-4673 (1-800-813-HOPE)
Web site: www.cancercare.org
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Toll-free number: 1-800-422-6237
Web site: www.cancer.gov
*Inclusion on
this list does not imply endorsement by the American Cancer Society.
No matter who you are, we can help. Contact us anytime, day or
night, for cancer-related information and support. Call us at 1-800-ACS-2345 (1-800-227-2345) or
visit www.cancer.org.
References
Department of Health and Human Services. Agency for Toxic
Substances and Disease Registry. Cancer
Fact Sheet. Available at:
www.atsdr.cdc.gov/COM/cancer-fs.html. Accessed October 29, 2008.
National Cancer Institute. Cancer: Questions and Answers.
Available at:
www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Sites-Types/general. Accessed
October 29, 2008.
Last Medical Review: 12/12/2008
Last Revised: 12/12/2008 Last Medical Review: 02/24/2009
Last Revised: 02/24/2009
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