For years, doctors told Linda Chavez that her symptoms were nothing to be concerned about. However, she was later diagnosed with Metastatic Bronchial Carcinoma, a kind of lung cancer. Unfortunately, she was already stage four by the time she received her diagnosis. This meant that it was too late to attempt to cure her. Now she is sharing five cancer warning signs to look out for so that others will not have to experience the same.
Five Cancer Warning Signs To Look Out For
According to Cancer Research UK, there are more than 200 different types of cancer, which collectively cause a range of various signs and symptoms. In some cases, these symptoms can affect specific parts of the body, such as the skin or stomach. Other times, these signs can be more general, such as fatigue, unexplained pains, and unexpected weight loss. Linda has Metastatic Bronchial Carcinoma, a type of cancer that spreads out from its place of origin in the lung. Possible symptoms of this type of lung cancer include a persistent new cough, unexplained weight loss, chest infections, difficulty swallowing, and a loss of appetite. Let’s look at a few of these cancer warning signs in greater detail.
Continuous Bone Pain
Linda began to experience a deep, throbbing pain in her bones. Pain is the body’s way of telling you that something is wrong. To Linda, the pain was similar to what you feel when you stub your toe on something, except this pain radiated through Linda’s entire body. This was, in fact, a sign that the cancer had begun to spread beyond the confines of her lungs. Metastatic lung cancer enters the bones, resulting in persistent pain that cannot be controlled using over-the-counter medications.
A Persistent Cough That Refuses to Go Away
According to Linda, she had a persistent cough that wouldn’t go away for years. Initially, it was just a small dry cough that was more irritating than anything else. However, it proceeded to get worse and worse over time. “Eventually, it was deeper, it felt very painful, and it felt piercing in my chest,” said Linda. Persistent coughs that last for longer than 8 weeks are typically indicative of something seriously wrong with your body. However, many individuals, such as Linda, ignore these cancer warning signs until it’s far too late to rectify. If your cough won’t go away, don’t assume that it will just disappear – go see your doctor as soon as possible.
Overwhelming Fatigue
Linda didn’t just feel tired – she felt completely drained and fatigued. Nothing would take the fatigue away including coffee, sleep, and rest. Not only did she constantly feel tired, but even breathing became painful. According to Linda, “I literally had to take shallow breaths due to the pain I was feeling every time I was inhaling or exhaling”. Fatigue is often one of the first, yet most overlooked cancer warning signs. Feeling extremely fatigued, especially when combined with other cancer warning signs, is an indication that your body is fighting something serious.
Headaches That Won’t Go Away
While the occasional headache is pretty normal, waking up every day for nine months with a headache is definitely not. Linda experienced relentless headaches that forced her to take several painkillers every day just so that she could function. Headaches are not a sign that one typically associates with lung cancer, right? However, when cancer metastasizes to the brain, chronic headaches can become a harsh daily reality. The pain is usually the worst in the morning and doesn’t go away with rest. Most individuals just assure that their headaches must be the result of dehydration, stress, or lack of sleep. However, if these cancer warning signs appear at the same time, then there is a good chance there is a deeper issue at play.
Nausea That Won’t Go Away
Linda felt more and more nauseous in the weeks leading up to her diagnosis. Linda subsequently found out that the cancer had spread to her brain, particularly the right frontal lobe, which controls hunger, cravings, and nausea. Unfortunately, it is another one of those cancer warning signs that could be mistaken for resulting from some other factor, such as diet, stress, or a sensitive tummy. However, if it continues without any apparent cause, then it could be indicative of a deeper health issue, such as cancer. If your nausea persists for an extended period, it’s a good idea to visit your doctor to get to the bottom of it.
