Cancer News Information

Certain circumstances may put you at increased risk of developing cancer. They aren't causes-in other words, they don't necessarily mean that you get cancer-but considering whether any of these risk factors may apply to you can help in assessing your symptoms:

1. Age: Many cancers become more common with age. Taking seriously any new symptoms that persist or that you can't explain (this warning of course also rings true if you're younger, but is particularly relevant if you belong to an older age group) is therefore important.

2. Family Past: You may be at bigger risk of cancer when cancer runs in your close family. This situation applies to some cancers more than to others, but if you develop symptoms of a particular cancer then mentions this family history to your doctor.

3. Previous Cancer: If you've had cancer in the past, a recurrence is possible. Even if you see your doctor for regular follow-ups or your regular reviews stopped a while ago, take any unusual and persistent symptoms seriously and seek medical advice.

4. Smoking: Smoking augments the risk of developing certain cancers, most prevalent lung cancer but also cancer of the cervix and bladder. Time to pack in the cigarettes!

5. Toxins: Some industrial and occupational exposures may increase the risk of cancer. For example, certain chemicals increase the risk of bladder cancer, alcohol can lead you to develop chronic liver inflammation that can eventually lead to liver cancer, and exposure to asbestos dust in the past puts you at higher risk of developing a certain type of lung cancer.

In addition to being aware of any possible risk factors that may apply to you, consider your symptoms. Cancers can cause a host of symptoms, most of which develop gradually over weeks and months, although sometimes the symptoms start acutely, particularly if a tumor is growing relatively fast. Consider the possibility of cancer if you notice any of the following:

1. Fever and Night Sweats: These symptoms are particularly common with (such as leukemia), although of course fever is much more commonly due to an acute infection (perhaps in connection with a cough or a sore throat) rather than cancer.

2. Nausea and Vomiting: Persistently feeling sick and vomiting may occur with cancers of the stomach but also with other malignancies such as a brain tumor. However, non-serious stomach problems are usually much more likely.

3. New, Unusual and/or Persistent Symptoms: You develop a new, unusual, unexpected, persistent or worsening symptom 'out of the blue' for no apparent reason and are unable to explain it.

4. Swollen Lymph Glands: Lymph glands (located, for example, on your neck, in your armpits and in your groins) tend to swell up during certain infections, but if one or more of your glands stays swollen for more than two weeks (particularly if they don't hurt), or they gradually get bigger, this can potentially be a sign of a cancer of the lymph glands (known as lymphoma) or one that has spread from elsewhere in your body.

5. Tiredness: Persistent tiredness is a common symptom of many cancers (particularly blood cancer types), but can also occur due to anemia caused by blood loss from cancer of the stomach or the intestine (for more on anemia, check out the earlier section 'Experiencing constant tiredness'). But remember that tiredness is in most cases due to other and much less serious causes.

6. Weight and Appetite: Consider the possibility of cancer if you lose weight for no apparent reason over a period of weeks or months-with or without reduced appetite. Some cancers can make you lose your appetite, whereas in others you feel hungrier.

None of the aforementioned symptoms essentially mean that you have cancer, but they can do particularly if they don't go away-and so seek medical advice sooner rather than later if you're concerned.