World Cancer Day: Alarming signs of cancer you should not ignore

Representational Picture

Incidences of cancer are rising in India over the last few years. Cancer has multifactorial etiology. Addictions (smoking, tobacco consumption and alcohol), lifestyle, food habits, and aging are important risk factors for different cancer. As per latest Globocon data, India will have about 1.2 million new cancer patients and about 2.2 million treated cancer survivors. The commonest cancers in a male are lip, oral cavity, lung followed by stomach and colorectal cancer. In females, commonest cancers are breast, cervix followed by ovaries and oral cavity cancers.

The prognosis and survival of cancer depend on early diagnosis and treatment of cancer. In the Indian population, we see a majority of patients coming for treatment at a very advanced stage or when cancer has already spread to other organs. This reduces the chances of cancer control and survival.

There is a lack of awareness about early warning symptoms and signs for common cancers. In addition, there is a lot of social taboo about cancer which inhibits patients to come forward for cancer treatment.

Dr. Nikhil Kalyani, Department of Radiation Oncology, Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre talks about the warning symptoms and signs which should require advice and evaluation by an oncologist.

Head and neck cancer:

• Non-healing ulcer or growth in the oral cavity.
• Swelling in the neck.
• Change in voice.
• Difficulty in swallowing.
• Delayed healing after dental extraction

Liver Cancer:

• Pain and/or lump in the right upper abdomen.
• Jaundice.
• Weight loss
• Nausea/vomiting

Esophageal cancer:

• Difficulty in swallowing.
• Pain during swallowing.
• Regurgitation of food.
• Back pain.

Breast Cancer:

• Lump in either of the breast.
• Lump in the armpit.
• Recent onset nipple retraction or bloodstained nipple discharge.
• Recent onset change in size, shape or texture of one breast as compared to another breast.