Cancer often presents with various physical characteristics that can serve as potential indicators. Recognizing these signs and symptoms is an important step toward seeking professional medical evaluation. Prompt assessment by a healthcare provider can help determine the cause of these changes and lead to timely intervention if cancer is present. Understanding these indicators is helpful for public health awareness.
General Systemic Indicators
Cancer can manifest through broad, non-localized physical signs that affect the body as a whole. Unexplained significant weight loss is a common indicator, often defined as a loss of 10 pounds or more without intentional dieting or increased physical activity. This occurs because cancer cells consume a considerable amount of the body’s energy, altering metabolism. Tumors can also release hormones that affect hunger signals or physically press on organs, making it difficult to eat.
Persistent fatigue, unrelieved by rest, is another general symptom. This tiredness can stem from the cancer’s metabolic demands, as malignant cells divert nutrients the body needs for energy. The immune system’s response to the tumor also contributes to this fatigue. Unexplained fevers, especially those occurring at night, and drenching night sweats can also be systemic signs of cancer. These fevers may arise from the body’s immune reaction or from the cancer itself.
Observable Skin Alterations
Physical changes visible on the skin can also be indicators of potential health concerns. Changes in existing moles are particularly important to monitor, often guided by the ABCDE rule. Features that warrant medical attention include:
Asymmetry
Irregular borders
Uneven color
A diameter larger than 6 millimeters
Evolving changes in size, shape, or color
New skin lesions or unusual growths, or existing ones that change, should also be evaluated.
Non-healing sores or ulcers on the skin can be a sign of skin cancer, especially if they bleed or form a crust. These sores may heal temporarily but then return. Changes in skin color or texture, such as yellowing, darkening, or redness, can also occur. Some cancers or their treatments can lead to rashes, dry skin, or itchiness.
Palpable Masses and Swellings
The presence of palpable masses or swellings on or under the skin can be a physical characteristic associated with cancer. These can appear as lumps or areas of thickening noticeable to the touch. While many lumps are benign, any new or changing lump requires medical evaluation. Cancerous lumps are often described as hard, fixed in place, and may appear spontaneously, growing steadily over weeks or months.
Lumps can be found in various parts of the body, including the breast, testicles, neck, armpit, or groin. Breast cancers often present as single, hard lumps or thickenings, though they are not always painful. Swollen lymph nodes, particularly if firm or persistently enlarged, can also be a sign of infection or, less commonly, lymphoma or other cancers. General unexplained swelling in limbs or other body parts should also be investigated.
Altered Bodily Functions
Changes in the normal functioning of bodily systems can also manifest as physical characteristics. Persistent changes in bowel habits, such as new or worsening constipation or diarrhea, or changes in stool consistency, can indicate colorectal cancer. Blood in the stool, which may appear red or dark and tarry, is another important sign. Similarly, changes in bladder habits, including increased frequency of urination, difficulty passing urine, or blood in the urine, can be associated with bladder or prostate cancer.
A chronic cough or persistent hoarseness that does not resolve should also be noted. Difficulty swallowing, where food feels stuck in the throat, can be a symptom related to cancers of the throat, esophagus, or lung. Unusual bleeding or discharge from any body opening requires attention. This includes unexplained vaginal bleeding between periods, after sex, or after menopause, as well as nipple discharge or unexplained bruising. Persistent, unexplained pain that does not go away, worsens, or changes in character can also be a physical characteristic of cancer, potentially caused by a tumor pressing on nerves, bones, or organs.