In some ways, cancer testing has never been more sophisticated, and cancer awareness is at an all-time high. In other ways, it’s still primitive: there is still no regular screening test for ovarian cancer, the deadliest of gynecologic cancers. That’s why it’s crucial to be attuned to your health and alert to any changes, however subtle they may be.
“While cancer tests are very effective, it’s also helpful for patients to be in touch with their own body and their own symptoms,” says Taylor Graber, MD, an anesthesiologist at the University of California-San Diego and owner of ASAP IVs. “Patients know themselves best, and if there is a symptom which is new or alarming, it’s difficult for a physician to know without being told.” Eat This, Not That! Health asked the experts what signs of cancer you should always be on the lookout for. Read on, and to ensure your health and the health of others.
1. Unusual Bleeding
“Vaginal bleeding or rectal bleeding are at times ignored by women,” says Soma Mandal, MD, a women’s health specialist at Summit Medical Group in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey. “This can often signal a worrisome process such as uterine or colon cancer. These signs can often be scary and women may not want to admit that they need further testing.”
The Rx: “If there is bleeding coming from a place where there usually isn’t, it is best to have your physician aware,” says Graber. “I recommend yearly checks and establishing a relationship with your internist and GYN,” says Mandal. “Make sure to make all your age-appropriate screening completed and give your doctor a thorough family history.”
2.Constant Fatigue
“If you feel generalized fatigue, no matter how much sleep, rest or caffeine you have, it could be a sign of cancer,” says Dr. Jill Stocker, DO, a physician in West Hollywood, California. You may feel a loss of motivation and find yourself napping multiple times a day.
The Rx:Â Schedule routine medical exams with your general practitioner, and ensure you have screening tests according to current medical guidelines, including pap smear, mammogram, colonoscopy and bone density tests.
3.Bloating
Bloating, pain or pressure from the pubic bone to below the ribcage that lasts more than two weeks are warning signs of ovarian cancer, says Shieva Ghofrany, MD, an OB-GYN in Stamford, Connecticut.
4.Unexpected Weight Gain
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