• Question: how would you know that you had cancer is there something that you feel or it could be inexpected???

    Asked by cupcake94 to Amar, Ana, Andrea, Leah, Matt on 7 Mar 2014. This question was also asked by cherry16, , icecream19, sophieb.
    • Photo: Matthew Lam

      Matthew Lam answered on 7 Mar 2014:

      It depends what cancer it is. Women often find out they have breast cancer because they have detected a lump in their breast which they can feel from the outside. They might also notice other outside changes to their breasts that could be a sign of breast cancer.

      Other cancers that happen on organs deeper in the body such as the lungs might only produce symptoms once the tumour is affecting the organ it is growing in. So someone with lung cancer may start to experience shortness of breath or coughing up blood.

    • Photo: Anastasia Wass

      Anastasia Wass answered on 7 Mar 2014:

      Different cancers give different symptoms.
      Some cancers such as skin or breast can be felt or seen using your hands.
      Cancer on internal organs may give less obvious signs such as weight loss or pain.

      If lots of your family members develop cancer you can be screened for genes that may put you at risk. If you know you have a gene this doesn’t mean you will get cancer it just increases your risk so you can be pro active and try to stop it!

    • Photo: Andrea Hanvey

      Andrea Hanvey answered on 7 Mar 2014:

      Depends on the type of cancer. Patients present with all different symptoms. Breast cancer a woman or man may feel a lump in their breast. Womb or cervical cancer a woman may have irregular bleeding, lung cancer a patent may have a persistent cough and bowel cancer a patient may have symptoms such as blood and mucous in their poo or needing to go to the toilet alot! Other cancers the symptoms may not be as obvious, best thing to do if somthing is not right go to the doctors dont leave it! the earlier the diagnosis of cancer the better!

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