How do people realise that they have got cancer? what makes them think that they need to go to the doctors?

Question

symptoms wise?

Answer 1

Well, a lot of the time when people are diagnosed, it's usually by accident- I can speak from personal experience and from those I've come to know through this time. Usually you'll go to the doctor for something minor or something completely unrelated and the doctors may discover you have it through a routine blood test. I was diagnosed with a rarer form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma almost a year ago and I'm still under going treatment. I was sick for a long time before I was diagnosed, losing weight and having night sweats. But I just thought I was over training at the gym. But there are 'classic' symptoms that could be indicators of cancer, such as losing weight without reason and unusual fatigue- sometimes you'll find a lump, which is one symptom that will make most people worry that something is wrong with them. Before I was diagnosed, I had a lot of symptoms but never really paid any attention. It wasn't until I felt the lump on my neck that my boyfriend told me to go to the doctor. But at the end of the day, a diagnosis of cancer is usually the last thing a person suspects, no matter what their symptoms are.

Answer 2

Many cancers do not show and decernable symptoms until it is far too late. This is why regular checks are essential.

For women they should regularly do a breast self check, mammograms for the over 50 and younger if there is a family history. They should also get a regular Pap smear. These (breast and Cervical) cancer are the two highest causes of cancer related death in women.

For Men they should do regular testicular checks as testicular cancer is one of the biggest killers for young men and is nearly 100% treatable.

for many other cancers ther is little or no symptoms. This is why if you suffer from any chronic complaint, ie headache, sore throat or pain anywhere, that does not dissappear with ordinary treatment, eg headache tables, then consult a doctor.

Answer 3

In my husbands case he had terrible pains in the pack. When checked out it was found he had prostate cancer with secondary bone cancer (7 tumours on the spine, hips and shoulders). Apparently he had the prostate cancer for approximately 8 years before this - AND WITHOUT ANY SYMPTOMS AT ALL. He lived a normal life for 3 years with treatment, then 2 more years gradually deteriorating and eventually died on 15th Feb 2007.

This is a good example for prostate screening of all men over 50 years of age (at least). It must have cost the NHS thousands in treatment.

Answer 4

My son told me his pee looked like a strawberry slushie. We took him to the pediatrician and he ordered bloodwork. By that night he also had a stomach ache so off we went to our local ER. Once there tests were run and we had a diagnosis. My then 3 1/2 yr old son had a Wilms Tumor (rare childhood cancer of the kidney). He has now been off treatment for 13 1/2 months and is doing great.

My husband (about 10 yrs ago) found a lump on his groin. He thought it might be a hernia and went to a surgeon to have it repaired. When the surgeon opened him up he found a lymph node the size of 2 small golf balls. He had Hodgekins Lymphoma. He is doing fine today.

Answer 5

I found a lump in my breast a few years ago and went to the doctors. I was supposed to go for a mammogram but chickened out. I don't know why but I knew it was cancer. I had a second appointment made for me and was diagnosed the same day and was booked in for the op the following week. After the op I had chemo and radiotherapy, it was a long haul. If you have any lumps or bumps or if you are worried for whatever reason GO to the docs. It's better to be safe than sorry.

Answer 6

My mum went to see her GP as she was feeling under the weather and had a cough that she could not shift, she also lost her voice, so was sent for a chest xray and to have a camera put down her throat.
She had also lost a dramatic amount of weight, she was never been a large lady probably about a size 12-14 in uk sizes, but once the weight fell off she went down to a size 8uk size!
Chest xray revealed she had a shadow on her right lung and she had further tests which sadly revealed that she in fact had lung cancer and it was terminal.
This was in November 06 and sadly she passed away in January 07.
If your in any doubt go and see your GP straight away and ask for all the tests.

Answer 7

It depends what cancer it is. Generally, cancer is the uncontrollable growth of mutated cells in certain areas of the body.
If, for example, you have cancer of the breast, you'd have a lump. If cells travel into the glands, it can cause soreness under the arms.
If you have prostrate cancer, it will affect how a man wees,
The symptoms depend on the affected organs function

Answer 8

It depends on what sort of cancer you have. Sometimes you notice a lump (as in breast cancer) or you have a small spot or melanoma (as in skin cancer). Cancers like blood cancer (leukemia) don't show up physically at first but you feel pretty terrible and when you go to the doctor that's how you find out.

Answer 9

Hi,

usually there is something that is not right - lump, bulge, pain or just a general "not feeling great" that goes on a longer time than the flu or injury.

there are a couple of routine screenign things that people should do (like PSA for men or Mamogram for women) and a couple of others.

Best thing is to have a annual checkup with your doctor and be honest with what is going on.

Jewells
36 months and still here

Answer 10

Depends on the type of cancer, symptoms are different. Certain cancer can be detected through blood tests, tumours markers.