What does the letter A represent in the acronym caution which describes the seven warning signs of cancer?

One of the warning signs of cancer is indigestion or difficulty swallowing. These symptoms are a possible sign of esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, or pancreatic cancer.

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O – Obvious change in a mole or wart
N – Nagging cough or chronic hoarseness
U – Unexplained anemia
S – Sudden weight loss
Key Takeaways

Due to the tumor blocking the food, a person develops pain when swallowing, or have a feeling that there is a lump stuck in their throat.

Indigestion on the other hand, is one of the common signs of pancreatic cancer. This can cause a painful or burning feeling in the chest, or a bitter, unpleasant taste in the mouth.

It is important to note, however, that these symptoms are not necessarily exclusive to cancer. Other health problems can also manifest these symptoms, so it would be a good idea to still seek medical attention.

O – Obvious change in a mole or wart

Among the warning signs of cancer, an obvious change in a mole or wart is one of the easiest to spot.

If you notice that you have a mole or a wart that changes color, grows bigger or shrinks, or even moves to a different location, then it might be a sign that there is a cancerous growth in that area.

One cancer most commonly associated with this symptom is skin cancer.

If you notice this warning sign, it would be wise to get in touch with your doctor as soon as possible in order to get it checked immediately.

N – Nagging cough or chronic hoarseness

A nagging cough or chronic hoarseness could be a sign of esophageal cancer.

One major cause of this type of cancer is smoking, and the problem is that these symptoms are also common among smokers.

This is the reason why throat cancer and esophageal cancer can be difficult to detect in its initial stages, because smokers might not readily notice these warning signs of cancer.

If you are a smoker, it would be best to quit as soon as possible in order to lower your risk of not just throat or esophageal cancer, but also lung cancer as well.

There are also two other symptoms that are sometimes used with the CAUTION signs and symptoms of cancer acronym. These symptoms are not always present in most types of cancer, but are still important symptoms to watch out for.

U – Unexplained anemia

Anemia is a condition wherein a person lacks healthy blood cells in their body. The common symptoms include fatigue, paleness, weakness, chest pain, brittle nails, and cold hands and feet.

Any unexplained anemia should be a cause for concern, and it is important to consult your doctor as soon as possible if you experience these symptoms.

S – Sudden weight loss

Lastly, sudden weight loss is another common symptom of cancer. This is especially worrisome if you have not been under a lot of stress, or have not made any changes in your diet.

If you were perfectly healthy and you suddenly experience weight loss, then it should be a definite cause for concern.

Talking to your doctor about it can help you identify what could be the probable cause of your sudden weight loss, and if you should be worried about it.

Key Takeaways

One of the most important measures to deal with cancer is early detection. The sooner cancer can be detected, the better the outcome could be for the patient.

This is why it is important to listen to your body, and to not ignore any unusual signs and symptoms that you might be experiencing.

Noticing even just a small and unusual change could save your life.

So be sure to check your body for any signs and symptoms of cancer, and do not hesitate to seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Learn more about cancer, here.

The awareness of early signs and symptoms for cancer types such as skin, cervical, breast, colorectal and oral in order to get them diagnosed and treated at early stage is important.

Some warning signs of cancer are below:

Warning signs What to look for Unusual bleeding/discharge Blood in urine or stool Discharge from any parts of your body, for example nipples, penis, etc. A sore which does not heal Sores that: don't seem to be getting better over time are getting bigger getting more painful are starting to bleed Change in bowel or bladder habits Changes in the colour, consistency, size, or shape of stools. (diarrhoea, constipated) Blood present in urine or stool Lump in breast or other part of the body Any lump found in the breast when doing a self examination. Any lump in the scrotum when doing a self exam. Other lumps found on the body. Nagging cough Change in voice/hoarseness Cough that does not go away Sputum with blood Obvious change in moles Use the ABCD RULE Asymmetry: Does the mole look the same in all parts or are there differences? Border: Are the borders sharp or ragged? Colour: What are the colours seen in the mole? Diameter: Is the mole bigger than a pencil eraser (6mm)? Difficulty in swallowing Feeling of pressure in throat or chest which makes swallowing uncomfortable

Feeling full without food or with a small amount of food

Image credit: www.cyclicx.com

Cancer is a disease that mostly affects aged 50 and older people, but it can occur at any age. This is a disease that starts in our cells. Normally, the genes inside each cell order it to grow, work, reproduce and die which makes us healthy, but sometimes this order get confused, causing the cells to form lumps or tumours, or spread through the bloodstream and lymphatic system to other parts of the body.

As of now, lung, breast, colorectal and prostate cancer are the most common types of cancer in Canada.

The tremendous impact of cancer is very hard physically, emotionally and financially. When cancer is found early it is often easier to treat, so don’t ignore any changes to how your body feels. The key is early detection, so a regular checkup to a healthcare professionl is very important.

Here are the 9 warning signs and symptoms of cancer "CAUTION US" that you should not ignore:

C: Change in bowel or bladder habits.

If you noticed any sudden changes in bowel and bladder habits that you think it is not regular for you including diarrhea or constipation or a change in the consistency of your stool and a feeling that your bowel doesn't empty completely, this could be signs and symptoms of colon cancer. Blood in the urine or urinary urgency and frequency or pain on urination could be a sign of bladder or prostate cancer.

A: A sore that does not heal.

Skin cancers may look like; a spot or sore that does not heal, that itches, hurts, is scabbed or crusty, or bleeds or areas where the skin has broken down (an ulcer) and doesn't heal for more than 4 weeks. A long-lasting sore in the mouth could be an oral cancer.

U: Unusual bleeding or discharge.

Abnormal vaginal bleeding or irregular changes of menstrual cycle experienced by women is a typical sign of endometrial cancer or cervical cancer.

T: Thickening or lump in the breast or elsewhere.

Often disregarded as "Just a lump", because most lumps are not caused by cancer. These cancers occur mostly in the breast, testicle, lymph nodes (glands), and the soft tissues of the body. A lump caused by cancer is usually hard, irregularly shaped, and firmly fixed under the skin or deep in tissue. Although they usually do not cause pain, some types of cancerous lumps are painful. Whether the lump is cancerous or not, again, it's better to consult a healthcare provider.

I: Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing.

For most people indigestion is not a sign of cancer, indigestion is a common problem that most of us suffer with from time to time which we often ignore. But when you get indigestion a lot or has come on suddenly and it is particularly painful you have to consult your physician this could be a sign of stomach cancer. Dysphagia or difficulty in swallowing could be a sign of esophageal cancer.

O: Obvious change in a wart or mole.

You may not have any symptoms in the early stage of skin cancer. Most melanomas start as a new skin growth on unmarked skin. The growth may change color, shape, or size. These types of changes are an early sign that the growth is melanoma. It most often occurs on the upper back in men and women. On older people, the most common sites are the neck, scalp, face and ears.

N: Nagging cough or hoarseness.

A cough that does not go away may be a sign of lung cancer. Hoarseness can be a sign of cancer of the larynx (voice box) or thyroid gland.

U: Unexplained anemia.

Many cancers can cause anemia, but bowel cancers most commonly cause iron deficiency anemia. Evaluation should include endoscopy or X-ray studies of your upper and lower intestinal tracts.

S: Sudden weight loss.

Most people with cancer will lose weight at some point. When you lose weight for no known reason, without trying to lose weight (no dieting and not exercising) it’s called an unexplained weight loss. An unexplained weight loss of about 5kg or more might be the first sign of cancer. This happens most often with cancers of the pancreas, stomach, esophagus (swallowing tube), or lung.

There are other cancer signs and symptoms not listed above, but if you see any changes in the way your body works or body feels let your doctor know.

Sources:

http://www.cancer.ca

http://www.webmd.com

http://www.cancer.org

http://www.skincancer.org