Since men tend to postpone doctor’s appointments, it is very important to learn to recognize the possible symptoms of certain diseases and treat the disease on time. If you are a smoker, or you are exposed to chemicals on a daily basis, for example, at work, and you are over 50, then you need to be careful when you experience certain symptoms that may actually point out to some type of cancer…
Prostate cancer
In most of the cases, there are no clear, early symptoms. A digital rectal test can discover abnormalities. However, the diagnosis of this type of cancer can be only detected if there is a high level of PSA (prostate specific antigens). This type of cancer appears in 5 to 7% of men older than 50. The death rate is relatively low: 3%. After the age of 70, almost 80% of men have some form of prostate cancer, but this was not their cause of death. These are some of the symptoms that point out to prostate cancer or benign changes:
-impossibility to urinate
-difficulty urinating
-frequent urination, especially at night
-weak urine flow
-constant feeling of insufficiently emptied bladder
-painful urination and a burning sensation
-blood in the urine
-blood in the semen
-erection and ejaculation problems
-frequent ache in the lower part of the back and the hips
Difficulty urinating, weak flow of urine, and feeling of an insufficiently emptied bladder can also be a consequence of an enlarged prostate or urethral stricture.
Lung cancer
This type of cancer does not show early symptoms. However, a chronic cough or blood during coughing is a frequent indicator of cancer. Also, frequent chest pain unaffected by moving, according to Dr Ezra Cohen, an oncologist from the University of Chicago Medical Center. Other symptoms can be weight loss, asthma, and fever. Sometimes these symptoms can point out to pneumonia and on the x-rays both the cancer and the pneumonia are white. The only certain indicator is biopsy. If you are an active smoker, chronic symptoms are not something you should ignore.
Colon cancer
Even if it only occurs once, blood in the stool must not be ignored. It may point out to precancerous polyps that bleed, and bleeding is the only early sign noticeable. In more than half of the cases, there are no early indicators of this condition. In men younger than 50, bleeding in the stool may be a consequence of hemorrhoids, colitis or abnormal blood vessels. However, the best solution is to consult a professional. Colonoscopy is the only reliable method of diagnosis so that any polyps can be removed without later developing into a serious disease.
Bladder cancer
Blood in the urine is a reason for a doctor’s appointment. If you are younger than 60, it may be a sign of kidney stones. However, it is worth to do a check-up since, if bladder cancer is diagnosed in the early phase, it can be easily treated. Frequent urination or painful urination may sometimes be symptoms of an infection. If you are a smoker, or you are exposed to chemicals, for example at work, such as aniline dyes, Benzedrine, and aromatic amines; if you work in a textile or a chemical industry, in mechanics, auto-body painting, metal industry, copy-print offices, etc. you are at a higher risk of developing this type of cancer.
Lymphoma cancer
Painless, swollen lymph nodes on the neck, underarms, or loins, are the most common symptoms of this disease. The lymph nodes swell during an infection, but if they do not subside after a week, you need to consult your physician. Additionally, unexplained weight loss during a month or two, pain in the nodes’ area after alcohol consumption, and itching without rashes are serious indicators of lymphoma cancer. The disease is diagnosed with a blood test and biopsy which is a more accurate procedure of testing. In fact, lymphoma cancer is a malignant transformation of the cells of the lymphocytic system. The lymphocytes spread and grow quickly thus forming the clusters in the lymph nodes or in other organs which contain lymph tissue. These lymphocytes can easily transfer to all body parts through blood and lymphoma. The pressure from the lymphocytes’ mass onto the surrounding tissue points out that something is wrong. However, there are cases in which the affected person does not experience similar, or any other symptoms related with this type of cancer.