Cancer is the second most common cause of death after cardiovascular disease. Experts stress the importance of early diagnosis in fighting the disease with bold lines.
Symptoms like unusual swelling, a persistent cough, and a headache are early warning signs of cancer that doctors tell us to look out for. In addition to these symptoms that almost everyone knows about, there are such signals from our body that most people do not even think that they suspect a tumor. Floating stools in the toilet, excessive sweating and auditory hallucinations are some of the symptoms that indicate tumors.
Karis Betts, one of the directors of Cancer Research, the world’s largest independent cancer research organization, recently told the Daily Mail, noting that there are more than 200 types of cancer with many different possible symptoms, “It is impossible to know them all. Therefore, if you notice anything that is not normal or does not go away, consult your doctor. It’s probably not cancer. But if it’s cancer, early detection means that treatment is more likely to be successful.” She said.
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According to global cancer statistics, 19.3 million people worldwide were diagnosed with cancer in 2020, and there were 10 million deaths due to cancer. The most common types were skin, breast, lung, colorectal (large intestine and rectum), prostate, and stomach cancers. People diagnosed with cancer are projected to reach 28.4 million people by 2040.
So which unusual symptoms indicate which cancer?
medical oncology specialists prof. Dr Kerem Okutur fri Assoc. Dr. Ozge Gumusay we have talked
FLOATING FOOT MAY BE A STIMULATOR OF PANCREATIC CANCER
While it may seem like an odd connection, floating stools may be an early warning sign of pancreatic cancer.
Gümüşay said pancreatic cancer is an insidious type of cancer and most of the time it can be diagnosed after the disease has progressed, Gümüşay said. It presents with symptoms such as darkening of urine color. However, if the tumor blocks the pancreatic duct, the pancreatic enzymes responsible for digestion cannot reach the small intestine and food absorption cannot be achieved completely. Diarrhea can also occur in cases where digestion is not complete. Therefore, high-fat stools can float on water, become sticky and lighter in color.” and pointed out that these symptoms can appear in many different situations:
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Floating stools can be seen in people who consume high-fiber foods, certain digestive tract infections, absorption disorders, cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, liver disease, biliary tract disease, gallstones, small intestine diseases. For this reason, if there is only a complaint of floating stools, although it is not necessary to suspect cancer immediately, it should be seen by a specialist.“
BRAIN TUMOR MAY BE MIXED WITH PSYCHIATRIC SYMPTOMS
Hearing random voices, and sometimes thinking you hear real voices, is often described as a symptom of a psychiatric illness. But it can also be a sign of cancer.
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Gümüşay said patients with brain tumors often come to specialists with headaches, seizures, vomiting, fatigue, distraction, loss of strength in certain parts of the body, balance problems, vision and speech problems. However, patients with brain tumors may rarely have psychiatric symptoms such as auditory hallucinations without other findings.
Stating that auditory hallucinations are almost always considered abnormal, Okutur said, “This is usually caused by neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s, dementia and schizophrenia. However, brain tumors can sometimes present with auditory hallucinations. This can occur, especially in tumors originating in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. Although auditory hallucinations are not a very typical finding for brain tumors, an expert opinion should be sought.
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LOW CHANCE, BUT FATAL
Paying attention to the color and shape of your nails can save your life. The detected changes in the nail can be a sign of many diseases, as well as a symptom of cancer.
Gümüşay said the most common cancer found in nails is a type of skin cancer called malignant melanoma.Of all melanomas, subungual placement of this type is actually quite rare, accounting for less than 1% of melanomas. However, early diagnosis of nail melanomas is of great importance, as when it progresses, it can spread to other places and be fatal. Unlike others, this type of melanoma occurs without exposure to sunlight and the true cause is unknown. They are brownish-black lesions that often develop under the toenail. When you notice discoloration or black, brown, or blue streaks under your nail, you should see a dermatologist, and these lesions should be examined if cancer is suspected.he said.
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IMBALANCE IS NORMAL IN THE ELDERLY BUT…
Dropping things, losing your balance, and being a little clumsy are often associated with dementia, but they can also be a symptom of cancer.
Stressing that conditions such as imbalance are described as abnormal, Okutur said: “These symptoms can be caused by many diseases, from anemia to brain tumors. While it seems normal over time, especially in older people, this isn’t the right approach. In people who have never had complaints before, new-onset imbalance and associated symptoms such as dizziness and nausea should definitely come to mind with brain tumors.
Gümüşay, on the other hand, said that there are difficulties with balance in patients with brain tumors, especially in tumors located in the cerebellum, and said that some details are important to understand which disease is causing the symptom:
“While these disorders, which occur with dementia or aging, develop over a long period of time, the symptoms associated with brain tumors develop over a shorter period of time. Balance disturbance and loss of balance is a symptom that can be seen in brain tumors and this disturbance is often accompanied by additional symptoms such as headache, altered consciousness, seizures, blurred vision, speech disturbance, loss of strength, nausea-vomiting, depending on the size and location of the tumor.
BRAIN TUMOR CAUSES A PERSONALITY CHANGE
There are many reasons why we give up on a hobby, whether it’s playing an instrument or joining a sports team. However, sudden loss of interest in your favorite hobby isn’t considered normal and can be a sign of cancer, according to experts.
For example, for years Health Working in psychology, Dr. In a study by Suzanne Scott, brain cancer patients reported being less interested in activities and not caring about their relationships, jobs and hobbies.
Gümüşay said patients show different symptoms depending on which brain lobe the brain tumor is located in.Tumors located in the frontal lobe of the brain, which we call the frontal lobe, can cause personality changes and this can naturally affect patients’ social relationships with family and friends. Again, depending on the location of the tumor, it may be observed that the person cannot play a musical instrument that they could play before, or that they are less interested in the things they like to do.. However, when a person comes to us with the complaint that “The hobbies I love are no longer interesting to me,” when he has no other complaints, the first disease to consider is not a brain tumor. First of all, it should be investigated whether there are diseases such as depression, psychosis and Parkinson’s disease in these patients.
YOU HAVE TO SUSPECT IF THE JERSEY IS CONTINUOUS
It’s normal to sweat profusely when it’s hot, you’re exercising, or you’re sick. But if you wake up in a pool of sweat, it could be a sign of many conditions, including hyperthyroidism, hypoglycemia, menopause or anxiety. However, cancer research experts say sweating a lot can be a sign of lymphoma, carcinoid tumors, leukemia, mesothelioma, bone cancer, and even liver cancer.
Emphasizing that sweating is a physiological discovery and that all people sweat, Okutur said:When sweating occurs when there is no factor that can cause sweating and it gains continuity, it should be considered that it is caused by a disease. The cause of sweating in the cancers listed above are certain molecules that are secreted by cancer cells into the blood and cause sweating. A feature of the sweating seen in lymphoma is that it increases at night and is seen intensely even when the weather is not hot. So sweating can be a symptom of cancer. If the sweating process is accompanied by symptoms such as weight loss, loss of appetite, weakness and fever, you should consult a specialist.
CANCER FREE WITHOUT SPECIFIC SYMPTOMS
Several Cancer Emphasizing that there are many types and many symptoms, Okutur said, “However, most of these symptoms are not specific to cancer. In any case, there is no specific symptom that we can call specific to cancer. Therefore, the most important thing is to have body awareness. Each person’s body has unique reactions and you need to be aware of them. When something is wrong, obviously, it’s the healthiest way to go to a doctor,” he warned.