Cancer Symptoms
Even though symptoms of cancer depend on the type and location of the tumour; there are a few cancer symptoms that are commonly experienced by most cancer patients. Cancer symptoms are divided into three;
- Local symptoms: Unusual lumps or swelling (tumor), hemorrhage (bleeding), pain and/or ulceration. Compression of surrounding tissues may cause symptoms such as jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin).
- Spreading symptoms: Enlarged lymph nodes, cough and hemoptysis, hepatomegaly (enlarged liver), bone pain, fracture of affected bones and neurological symptoms. Although advanced cancer may cause pain, it is often not the first symptom.
- Systematic symptoms: Weight loss, poor appetite, fatigue and cachexia (wasting), excessive sweating (night sweats), anemia and specific paraneoplastic phenomena
