How do you know or find out if you have cancer or symptoms of cancer?

Question

How is a DX of cancer found? How would you know if
you have some sort of cancer? Worried about myself and hubby, whom both have cancer history in family.

Answer 1

Less than 5% of cancers are hereditary.

Age is the most common risk factor, followed by environment.

If you eat well, don't smoke, exercise regularly, drink only in moderation, protect yourself against UV radiation (sun) and maintain a healthy weight, you moinimise your risk.

If you also get regular annual check-ups and consult your Dr when anything unusual occors in your overall health (changes to sleep patterns, digestion, energy levels, lumps etc without explanation) then you should be fine, and if you or hubby do develope cancer it should be caught early while still treatable.

Answer 2

The problem with cancer is that it if there are symptoms such as a visible tumor or pain, you are probably too late for a cure.

Doctors sometimes do an early detection cancer screening with an annual physical exam, but on the most common cancer such as breast for women or prostate for men. This assumes that you faithfully call every year for your annual physical exam. Unless you tell the doctor which cancers run in your family, you will not get screened for those cancers. You need to ask your doctor to screen you regularly for all the cancers that run in your family.

There are early detection tests for all major cancers except pancreatic cancer. Early detection makes most cancers treatable and/or curable. A common example is Prostate Cancer. A rapidly rising PSA (blood test), taken every 6 months if you have a family history of this cancer, will detect this cancer in most cases. This must be followed by other tests to confirm a positive diagnostic.

Answer 3

It depends on the type of cancer. If you have breast cancer then do self exams monthly and don't forget to run down your side and up in your pit. If your hubby is in the age range of 15-25 he needs to examine his testicles for lumps to check for testicular cancer, he should continue these exams past the age of 25, but most testicular cancer hits men within this age group. If there is colon cancer or colorectal cancer then colonoscopy should be performed at a younger age and on a regular basis if their is a family history. Ovarian Cancer should be taken seriously if someone has a family history of it.
Other signs of cancer are unintentional weight loss, fatigue, persistent cough, NEW symptoms of indigestion, gas, and abdominal bloating that is persistent for more than 2-3 weeks, anemia, lumps under the skin, petchiae, easy seity, vaginal discharge, bloody mucus, anal bleeding, coughing up blood, night sweats, high fever, persistent low grade fever, swollen lymph glands, and there are many more signs of cancer, like moles and skin distubances, it all depends on the cancer.... but most cancer is not symptomatic until the cancer has progressed to a latent stage.
So, precancer screenings are available for cervical and prostate cancer and if their is family histories these tests should be addressed with your physician to see when you should start screening. Be aware of the onset of any symptoms that are new or persistent. Be proactive with your health. But do not worry so much that you end up creating cancer for yourself. Other preventative measures are to keep stress levels at a minimum, and eat well, stay away from high fat foods and integrate a high fiber diet into your lives as well as exercise.
And by all means do self exams and pre screening for cancer.

Answer 4

Tell your family Dr. He will run annual tests given your histories. That simple.

Answer 5

go ahead and do research on the net :symptons of cancer or the webMd is really good or just schedule an appointment to see your physician.

Answer 6

Check out Web MD, dear one. They have a lot of illnesses listed, along with symptoms.

God bless!