Cancer doesn’t always strike without warning. Contrary to popular belief, many patients presented warning signs well before their diagnosis, but ignored or minimized them. This is what Dr Anchal Aggarwal, an Indian oncologist with 16 years of medical experience, reveals in a publication in Times of India.
Cancer gives warning signs that many overlook
According to her, about 80% of cancer patients missed crucial early symptoms before the disease was detected. “Persistent fatigue, unexplained pain or a chronic cough are frequently relegated to the ranks of minor everyday ailments.she laments. These signs, although obvious in hindsight, are often attributed to stress, overwork or natural aging. In short, everyday reasons that we prefer not to dig into.
But this negligence can have serious consequences. THE
National Cancer Institute recalls that cancers diagnosed late respond less well to treatments and have a reduced survival rate. Hence the importance of increased vigilance as soon as persistent symptoms appear.
Early symptoms to never ignore according to Dr Aggarwal
The body often sends alerts that we prefer not to hear. Among the most often neglected signs cited by the expert are:
- Unexplained and persistent fatigue : when it does not disappear despite rest, it can be linked to cancers such as leukemia or lymphoma;
- Unusual pain which get worse over time, without obvious cause. They can signal cancer of the bones, ovaries or other organs;
- Skin changes : mole that evolves, lesion that does not heal, bleeding or change of color… All possible signs of melanoma or skin carcinoma;
- Unexplained changes in weight or appetite : rapid weight loss without a particular diet can reveal digestive or lung cancer;
- The appearance of masses or persistent lymph nodes, even painless, which should prompt consultation;
- A prolonged cough or hoarse voice without apparent infection, sometimes linked to lung, larynx or thyroid cancer.
“These signals are often dismissed because they resemble banal inconveniences: temporary fatigue, minor pain or simple skin changes” specifies Dr Aggarwal. However, listening to your body and reacting early can make all the difference.
Why do these signs go unnoticed?
The causes of this negligence are multiple and people are not always aware of the danger. For many, fear of diagnosis plays a decisive role. “Many people prefer not to imagine the worst and attribute their symptoms to daily stress or aging.”underlines the oncologist. The hectic pace of life and the lack of time to consult accentuate this phenomenon, as does misinformation which trivializes certain symptoms.
To reverse this trend, doctors remind us that every minute counts. The National Cancer Institute specifies that
“early detection clearly increases the chances of survival and therapeutic effectiveness”. In France, organized screening campaigns (mammography, colorectal test, cervical smear) aim precisely to spot the signs before it is too late.
But Dr Aggarwal’s message is clear: “Listen to your body!”. Even the most minor changes can reveal something serious if you pay attention to them in time.