What cancer symptoms are linked to the diagnosis of specific cancers?

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It is not common to find signs and cancer symptoms in all types of cancers until they have developed into large tumours. By this time, it is putting pressure on surrounding nerves and tissues, or hindering the blood supply to the normal cells. The tumour can also block the function of the organ.
The Table below highlights on cancer symptoms exhibited by some commonly known cancers and various tests performed for their evaluation:
Burning urination (pee), frequent urination, back pain, pelvic pain, wanting to urinate but nothing comes out.
Cancer Symptoms Commonly Presented by Different Types of Cancer and Evaluation Techniques | ||
Type of Cancer |
Commonly shown Symptoms |
Evaluation Tests |
Brain |
A severe headache, impaired movement, blurred vision, speech problems, seizures. | CT scan, MRI, PET, biopsy testing. |
Esophagus (gut) |
Swallowing difficulties. | Esophagoscopy, biopsy testing, fluorescent spectroscopy cytology test. |
Thyroid gland |
Enlarged, hoarse voice. | Barium test followed by x-ray, thyroid nodule needle biopsy, and testing. |
Lung |
Impaired oxygen uptake and transport by the lungs, persistent bloody coughing, breathing difficulties, fatigue, dizziness, elevated blood calcium levels. |
Chest imaging such as MRI, x-ray, CT, PET; Lab tests (advanced genomic testing). |
Breasts |
The lump is present, discharge, sometimes bloody, pain in the breast, nipple curved inward, dimpling, skin redness. | Mammogram, MRI, ultrasound, biopsy for testing. Screening starts at age 40 years or earlier for high-risk individuals |
Liver |
Bloating, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, yellow skin and eyes (jaundice). | Ultrasound of the abdomen, MRI, CT, blood testing, Liver biopsy for testing. |
Pancreas |
May block bile flow (fluid that helps with digestion and is secreted by the liver through a duct that shares the common entry with pancreatic juice) resulting in yellow eyes and yellow skin (jaundice). Pain in the upper abdomen, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, lack of nutrition, sometimes diabetes. |
Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) Genetic testing with tumor markers (CA 19-9), MRI, CT, PET-CT. |
Kidneys |
Bloody urine, back pain, low blood counts, pain in lower abdomen, weight loss, fever, abdominal swell. | CT, Urinalysis, including urine cytology,
x-ray shows calcification (calcium deposit). |
Bladder |
CT scan test, Urinalysis, including urine cytology | |
Stomach |
Uncomfortable bowel movement, perturbed digestion, nausea, vomiting, lack of blood nutrients, unexpected weight loss, persistent diarrhea, dark stools. | Endoscopy, x-ray of stomach and intestines (gastrointestinal tract).
Lab tests. |
Colorectal |
Blood in stools, black stools, constipation, the persistent passage of gas, hemorrhoids, anemia, fatigue, weight loss. | Colonoscopy (looking at the lining of your large intestine)
MRI, PET, CT. Biopsy for testing |
Ovarian |
Back pain, pelvic pain, bloating, muscle spasms. | Ultrasound, specific serum protein (CA-125) level test. |
Uterine lining |
Abdominal pain, unusual vaginal bleeding. | PAP smear screening, Ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, biopsy for testing. |
Cervix |
Irregular bleeding, or pain, but very rare; usually, no symptoms. | PAP smear screening, CT scan, MRI, colposcopically (light directed, magnified the view of the cervix) directed biopsy for testing. |
Vagina |
Bleeding, lump, tender, discharge. | PAP smear screening to check cells and to perform HPV test. |
Prostate |
Enlarged, pains in the organ, urine difficulty, interrupted urine flow, painful semen (male reproductive fluid) discharge, lower back stiffness and pain, hip pain. | Biopsy for PSA test for screening which starts at age 50 years. MRI, CT, PET for diagnosis. |
Testicles |
Fatigue, lower back pain, lump in testicles, swollen scrotum, swollen lymph nodes, weight loss. | Ultrasound, blood test with tumour markers (alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), CT, MRI, PET |
Skin (Melanoma) |
Skin discoloration, itching, skin lesions, moles with undefined edges which may bleed | Self-examination using the Mole guideless, if the skin lesion is suspected, Dermatologist (skin specialist) obtains skin biopsy and test by histochemical techniques. Chest x-ray, MRI, CT, PET, to check if the cancer is spread to the inside of the body. |
Bones (Sarcoma) |
Blood loss, unexplained iron deficiency anemia, fatigue, hypercalcemia (excessive blood calcium levels), fever, loss of appetite, kidney failure. | Bone x-ray, MRI, PET-CT, bone marrow biopsy for testing. |
Blood (Leukemia) |
Anemia, feeling dizzy, fatigue, fever, loss of appetite, feeling weak, shortness of breath. | Ultrasound, CT) or MRI directed bone marrow biopsy for cell studies and blood count, flow cytometry to check rate of cancer growth, lymph nodes removal, x-ray, ultrasound, echocardiogram |
Lymphatic System(Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma)
|
Neck lymph node swells and may be without pain, abdomen contractions, weakness, shortness of breath, weight loss, fatigue, headache. | Blood count, biopsy, biochemical tests: high alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) are indications of liver damage resulting from lymphoma; High LDH activity indicates liver invasion. Chest x-ray. MRI, CT, PET, ultrasound. |
Note: A lot of other illnesses share some of these cancer symptoms. This is why it is important to do several tests in the evaluation process. |
Cancer Screening Guidelines by Age
Blood Test for Cancer Detection
Urine Analysis Test for Cancer