Nowadays women are in a race to do their best in their home as well as profession, and to maintain balance in personal and professional life they start neglecting their health. They tend to ignore pain, discomfort, and fatigue, which in turn lead to serious health complications.
Experts suggest that warning signs do not mean cancer, even if you have all of them. But if you find your symptom progresses or persist for a long time, then this is the right time to call your physician and have him checked out.
When you experience a sudden onset of certain severe symptoms, it is necessary to be seen and tested as soon as possible. Don’t wait for symptoms to go away or if home remedies can help.
Knowing your body is very crucial for good health. Regular checkups and screenings such as a pap smear test and mammograms help to identify the root cause of your problem.
So, what are those changes that worth bringing to our physician’s attention? Here are ten indications that you should keep on your radar and may indicate a medical emergency: In all the cases, you should speak to your physician immediately.
- Breast changes-Even if your mammogram doesn’t ignore, you shouldn’t ignore, if you feel a lump in your armpits or breasts. If your nipple develops scaliness or flaking, this can be an indication of Paget’s disease of the nipple, which is linked with underlying cancer and has been found in around 95% of cases. A nipple discharge should also be checked. Dimpling of the skin over the breast is something to be worried about. Dimpling of the skin is said to be associated with inflammatory breast cancer.
- Bloating-Ovarian cancer is a number one killer of all the reproductive organ cancers. Women suffering from ovarian cancer often experience bloating, they have a feeling of getting full earlier than usually would they when eating, urinating more frequently, pelvic pain.
- Irregular bleeding-If you find staining, bleeding, or little drops on your clothes, then get an immediate medical attention. Such bleeding could be a sign of endometrial or cervical cancer.
- A persistent cough- A cough that lasts for more than two or three weeks and if it is not due to an infection of a respiratory tract or any allergy needs to be checked by your physician. If the reason behind your cough is smoking, then get it checked out. Smoking is one of the major causes of death in women. You don’t have to be a smoker to be at risk because it can also be caused due to second-hand smoke.
- Fatigue- if you are persistently fatigued, visit your physician. If you feel an extreme tiredness that does not get better with rest, it is the right time to get it checked. Stomach cancer, colon cancer, or leukemia can cause blood loss which in turn results in fatigue. Many of us ignore fatigue, but it can be a serious problem in our lives.
- Changes in lymph node-If you feel hard lymph nodes in your neck or under your arm, you should see your physician. Lymphoma, breast, neck, lung, or head cancer can also be felt as enlarged lymph nodes. Your physician can conduct a physical exam and a biopsy to determine the problem.
- Skin changes-Watch for any changes you notice on your skin and discuss with your physician if anything disturbs you. Keep an eye on changes like sores in the mouth that don’t heal, especially if you drink or smoke because it can be a sign of oral cancer. Any sores or irritated skin in the vulvar lesion that doesn’t heal could be a sign of vulvar cancer.
- Unexplained weight gain or loss-Too much weigh especially if you maintain a healthy body weight by following a strict diet schedule or exercise, can be due to the collection of fluid in the belly associated with ovarian cancer. The condition should be checked by your physician.
- A headache– A severe headache that often occurs with a stiff neck and high fever could be a sign of meningitis or bacterial infection of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord.
- Rectal bleeding-Rectal bleeding is a sign of colon cancer. Blood in your stool warrants a visit to your physician.
