Prostate cancer often has no symptoms in its early stages.
Signs of advanced prostate cancer include difficulty in urination, back pain, trouble getting an erection, and blood in the urine. Screening for prostate cancer can help determine if you have cancer. Screening tests often include a digital rectal exam (DRE) and a prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test. Talk with your healthcare provider about the pros and cons of regular screening starting at age 50, or earlier if you are at higher risk.
A change in bowel habits is a common symptom of colon cancer.
A change in bowel habits such as blood in the stool or chronic constipation is a symptom of colon and
rectal cancer. Other symptoms include rectal bleeding, abdominal cramping, and weight loss. The American Cancer Society recommends people at average risk start regular colorectal cancer screenings at age 45. If you’re overweight or obese, or have other risk factors for colorectal cancer, talk with your healthcare provider about whether getting screened sooner might be right for you.
Lumps, hard knots, or a thickening in the breast could mean breast cancer.
All women should be familiar with how their breasts look and feel and report any changes to their healthcare provider.Mammography is an important tool for finding breast cancer early on, when it’s easiest to treat. For those at average risk, the American Cancer Society recommends a yearly
screening for all women ages 45 to 54 and screening every two years for women ages 55 and older.
A nagging cough or hoarseness could be signs of lung cancer.
Other possible signs are a chest ache and increased saliva or blood in the saliva. These symptoms could be caused by something other than cancer, but be sure to have any of these checked out by your
healthcare provider.