How to recognize the first symptoms of cancer. Mandatory examination: what tests will help to detect cancer in time. Breast changes in men and women

What kind of examinations and analyzes will help to suspect an oncological disease in time - said the experts of the Capital Medical Clinic, a doctor of the highest category, Candidate of Medical Sciences Fedor Shpachenko and biologist and psychologist Marina Spirande.

"Scheduled maintenance" for the body

Maya Milic, AiF.ru: Is it possible to somehow protect yourself from such a serious disease as cancer?

We often scold medicine, and we turn to doctors only when we get sick, and self-medication and the advice of friends and relatives no longer help. Although motorists, for example, try to undergo preventive maintenance once a year, they check the car in time to identify small problems in time before serious breakdowns occur.

Any oncologist will tell you that there is no cancer without precancer. Tumors, with the exception of skin cancer, are diseases of the internal organs, invisible to the eye and in the early stages may not bother a person. So, in order not to be treated later, you need to start right now to control those changes that can later lead to oncological diseases.

We are able to protect ourselves from many serious diseases, including cancer, by undergoing a preventive medical examination once a year, which in our time is often called the beautiful foreign word “CHEK-UP”. CHEK-AP programs differ in the composition of studies for men and women and take into account age.

For example, after 40 years, when the risks of oncological diseases increase, routine regular examinations include tests for specific tumor markers - substances, the number of which increases with precancerous and cancerous diseases.

Gastro- and colonoscopy are mandatory, taking into account the increase in the incidence of cancer of the stomach and intestines, as well as ultrasound of the internal organs. In women, the gynecologist's examination includes colposcopy, which makes it possible to detect precancerous changes in the cervix at an early stage, in men - urological control of the state of the prostate gland. After all, cancer of all these organs is much more common than, for example, cancer of the brain.

If blood relatives had oncological diseases, it is recommended to undergo a specialized oncogenetic analysis, which includes not only the listed studies, but also an analysis for oncogenes, which makes it possible to assess the genetic predisposition to some type of cancer.

Suspect cancer

- Can a complete blood count detect cancer? Or is it necessary to do a test for tumor markers?

Unfortunately, a general blood test cannot directly indicate such a disease. It will show only the general condition of a person, the presence of inflammatory processes (it could be a cold, or it could be cancer), by the level of ESR and hemoglobin it will indirectly indicate problems with the liver, kidneys or blood, by the composition of the blood it will suggest a number of diseases, including cancer. This is a very important analysis, but it is basic. If something is wrong in it, the general practitioner can refer you to a more detailed diagnosis to clarify the diagnosis.

Tumor markers with slight increases in quantity may indicate not cancer, but inflammatory diseases. In addition, among the most informative and common oncomarkers are alpha-fetoprotein, total PSA / free PSA, CEA, CA-15.3, CA-125, CA-19.9, CA-72.4, CYFRA-21.1, hCG and cytokeratin.

There is no specific tumor marker for brain cancer. There are only indirect indicators. Although there is still unconfirmed information that such a tumor marker was found by a group of Israeli scientists.

A neurologist can suspect brain cancer, whose studies include an assessment of the strength of the arms and legs, balance, reflexes, sensitivity, and mental state. An ophthalmologist using an ophthalmoscope can detect inflammation of the optic nerve of the fundus, which may be associated with an increase in intracranial pressure as a result of the growth of a brain tumor.

- Does it make sense to undergo an MRI once a year in order to prevent brain cancer?

But even now, if you were sent for an MRI, it is worth remembering that it is important to undergo an examination on the “correct” device - the magnetic field voltage must be greater than 1 Tesla (for the picture of the organs to be clear) and less than 3 Tesla (such a large power is needed only for high-precision research before surgery).

Remember, if there is no data on the dangers of the magnetic field of the tomograph yet, this does not mean that it is absolutely safe. The oncologist can refer the patient to another more informative study, which is selected in each case, for example, PET CT - positron emission tomography.

Now it is customary to criticize the professionalism of doctors. But no matter how strong your distrust of the doctor, it is worth remembering that the doctor definitely knows more about diseases than the average person. No research on hand will give you peace of mind.

Who to contact?

If you have symptoms, which doctor should you go to? Usually people get to the therapist - is the general practitioner able to "examine" the tumor? Or better immediately to a neurologist?

The general practitioner conducts critical basic research that provides food for thought for other subspecialists. Firstly, he collects an anamnesis - conducts a universal medical survey that gives a complete picture of the general condition of the patient, the nature of his complaints, the history of past diseases, and family diseases.

A good history is half of a correct diagnosis. Secondly, the therapist prescribes basic basic laboratory tests.

Any disease will declare itself, albeit indirectly, through these indicators. And if the totality of the data obtained indicates possible brain diseases, you will be redirected to a neurologist, but not with fears and concerns, but with the objective results of the initial examination.

Executive Director
Non-commercial partnership "Equal right to life",
YES. Borisov

Oncology: the problem has a solution

Modern Russian statistics are frightening: every year in the country Oncology is detected in more than 500 thousand people. Of these, about 300 thousand die. Every third of those who are diagnosed with the disease for the first time today will die within 12 months. This is largely due to the lack of information: people do not know anything about where, how and why it is necessary and possible to undergo an examination in order to detect the disease at an early stage, and even after hearing their diagnosis, many patients cannot receive the treatment they need in full. volume.

There are also problems in medical institutions. Alas, modern technology for the treatment of cancer today is not available in all cities. The staff is poorly trained: surgeons, chemotherapists and radiologists need up-to-date qualification knowledge.

The non-profit partnership "Equal Right to Life" is trying to solve these problems. Since 2006, we have been trying to implement as efficiently as possible main goal of our program: to ensure the equality of the rights of Russian patients and Russian oncologists to information about modern achievements in world oncology.

During the implementation of the program, educational events are held for oncologists. Internships for specialists are carried out on the basis of the leading medical centers of the country. There is also a program for the implementation of field certification cycles and master classes with the involvement of leading specialists from our country.

Along with this, the material and technical base of regional oncological medical institutions is being modernized: modern equipment is being purchased, and repairs are being carried out at the expense of extrabudgetary funds free of charge.

Cancer is highly treatable in its early stages. In order for everyone to be able to consult with an experienced specialist and learn information about modern methods of fighting cancer (is cancer transmitted, what are its symptoms, methods of diagnosis and treatment), a special hotline "Equal Right to Life" was created in 2006.

The number of thematic events for the inhabitants of the country is growing every year, because cancer is a problem that everyone should know about.

Diagnosis of cancerous tumors is a comprehensive examination using specific instrumental and laboratory methods. It is carried out according to indications, among which there are violations identified by a standard clinical blood test.

Malignant neoplasms grow very intensively, while consuming vitamins and microelements, as well as releasing the products of their vital activity into the blood, leading to significant intoxication of the body. Nutrients are taken from the blood, the products of their processing also get there, which affects its composition. Therefore, it is often during routine examinations and laboratory tests that signs of a dangerous disease are detected.

What blood tests show cancer

Cancer can be suspected based on the results of standard and special studies. In pathological processes in the body, changes in the composition and properties of blood are reflected in:

• general blood test;
• biochemical research;
• analysis for tumor markers.

However, it is impossible to reliably determine cancer by a blood test. Deviations of any indicators can be caused by diseases that are in no way connected with oncology. Even a specific and most informative analysis for oncomarkers does not give a 100% guarantee of the presence or absence of a disease and needs to be confirmed.

Is it possible to determine oncology (cancer) by a general blood test?

This type of laboratory study gives an idea of ​​the number of basic shaped elements that are responsible for the functions of the blood. A decrease or increase in any indicators is a signal of trouble, including the presence of neoplasms. A sample is taken from a finger (sometimes from a vein) in the morning, on an empty stomach. The table below lists the major categories of CBC or CBC and their normal values.

When interpreting the analyzes, it must be taken into account that, depending on gender and age, the indicators may vary, and there are also physiological reasons for increasing or decreasing values.

Almost all of these blood counts in oncology change in the direction of decrease or increase. What exactly does the doctor pay attention to when studying the results of the analysis:

• ESR. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate in the plasma is above normal. Physiologically, this can be explained by menstruation in women, increased physical activity, stress, etc. However, if the excess is significant and is accompanied by symptoms of general weakness and subfebrile temperature, cancer can be suspected.
• Neutrophils. Their number has been increased. Especially dangerous is the appearance of new, immature cells (myelocytes and metamyelocytes) in the peripheral blood, which is characteristic of neuroblastomas and other oncological diseases.
• Lymphocytes. These indicators of KLA in oncology are above the norm, since it is this blood element that is responsible for immunity and fights cancer cells.
• Hemoglobin. It decreases if there are tumor processes of internal organs. This is explained by the fact that the waste products of tumor cells damage red blood cells, reducing their number.
• Leukocytes. The number of white blood cells, as tests show in oncology, always decreases if the bone marrow is affected by metastases. The leukocyte formula is shifted to the left. Neoplasms of another localization lead to an increase.

It should be borne in mind that a decrease in hemoglobin and the number of red blood cells is characteristic of ordinary anemia caused by iron deficiency. An increase in ESR is observed in inflammatory processes. Therefore, such signs of oncology in a blood test are considered indirect and need to be confirmed.

Biochemical research

The purpose of this analysis, which is carried out annually, is to obtain information about the metabolism, the work of various internal organs, the balance of vitamins and microelements. A biochemical blood test for oncology is also informative, since a change in certain values ​​allows us to draw conclusions about the presence of cancerous tumors. From the table you can find out what indicators should be normal.

It is possible to suspect cancer by a biochemical blood test when the following values ​​​​are not normal:

• Albumin and total protein. They characterize the total amount of proteins in the blood serum and the content of the main one. A developing neoplasm actively consumes protein, so this indicator is significantly reduced. If the liver is affected, then even with good nutrition, there is a deficiency.
• Glucose. Cancer of the reproductive (especially female) system, liver, lungs affects the synthesis of insulin, inhibiting it. As a result, symptoms of diabetes mellitus appear, which reflects a biochemical blood test for cancer (sugar levels rise).
• Alkaline phosphatase. Increases, first of all, with bone tumors or metastases in them. It may also indicate oncology of the gallbladder, liver.
• Urea. This criterion allows you to evaluate the work of the kidneys, and if it is elevated, there is a pathology of the organ or there is an intensive breakdown of the protein in the body. The latter phenomenon is characteristic of tumor intoxication.
• Bilirubin and alanine aminotransferase (ALAT). An increase in the amount of these compounds informs about liver damage, including a cancerous tumor.

If cancer is suspected, a biochemical blood test cannot be used as a confirmation of the diagnosis. Even if there are coincidences on all points, additional laboratory tests will be required. As for blood donation itself, it is taken from a vein in the morning, and it is impossible to eat and drink (boiled water is allowed) from the previous evening.

Basic Analysis

If a biochemical and general blood test in oncology gives only a general idea of ​​the presence of a pathological process, then a study on tumor markers even allows you to determine the location of a malignant neoplasm. This is the name of a blood test for cancer, which identifies specific compounds produced by the tumor itself or the body in response to its presence.

In total, about 200 tumor markers are known, but a little more than twenty are used for diagnosis. Some of them are specific, that is, they indicate damage to a particular organ, while others can be detected in different types of cancer. For example, alpha-fetoprotein is a common oncomarker for oncology, it is found in almost 70% of patients. The same applies to CEA (cancer-embryonic antigen). Therefore, to determine the type of tumor, blood is examined for a combination of common and specific tumor markers:

• Protein S-100, NSE – brain;
• , SA-72-4, - the mammary gland is affected;
• , alpha-fetoprotein - cervix;
• , hCG - ovaries;
• , CEA, NSE, SCC - lungs;
• AFP, SA-125 - liver;
• SA 19-9, CEA, - stomach and pancreas;
• SA-72-4, CEA - intestines;
• - prostate;
• , AFP - testicles;
• Protein S-100 - skin.

But with all the accuracy and information content, the diagnosis of oncology by a blood test for tumor markers is preliminary. The presence of antigens can be a sign of inflammation and other diseases, and CEA is always elevated in smokers. Therefore, without confirmation by instrumental studies, the diagnosis is not made.

Can you get a good blood test for cancer?

This question is legitimate. If bad results are not a confirmation of cancer, can it be the other way around? Yes it is possible. The result of the analysis may be affected by the small size of the tumor or the use of drugs (given that for each tumor marker there is a specific list of drugs, the use of which can lead to false positive or false negative results, the attending physician and laboratory staff should be notified of the drugs taken by the patient).

Even if the blood tests are good and instrumental diagnostics did not give a result, but there are subjective complaints of pain, we can talk about an extraorgan tumor. For example, its retroperitoneal variety is detected already at stage 4, before that it practically did not let you know about yourself. The age factor also matters, since metabolism slows down over the years, and antigens also enter the blood slowly.

What blood parameters show oncology in women

The risk of getting cancer is approximately the same for both sexes, but the beautiful half of humanity has an additional vulnerability. The female reproductive system is at high risk of cancer, especially the mammary glands, which makes breast cancer the 2nd most common cancer among all malignant neoplasms. The epithelium of the cervix is ​​also prone to malignant degeneration, so women should be responsible for examinations and pay attention to the following test results:

• KLA in oncology shows a decrease in the level of red blood cells and hemoglobin, as well as an increase in ESR.
• Biochemical analysis - here the cause for concern is the increase in the amount of glucose. Such symptoms of diabetes are especially dangerous for women, as they often become harbingers of breast and uterine cancer.
• In the study of tumor markers, the simultaneous presence of SCC antigens and alpha-fetoprotein indicates the risk of damage to the cervix. Glycoprotein CA 125 - the threat of endometrial cancer, AFP, CA-125, hCG - ovaries, and the combination of CA-15-3, CA-72-4, CEA suggests that the tumor can be localized in the mammary glands.

If something is alarming in the analyzes and there are characteristic signs of oncology in the initial stage, a visit to the doctor cannot be postponed. In addition, you should visit a gynecologist at least once a year, and regularly examine your breasts on your own. These simple preventive measures often help detect cancer in its early stages.

When is an analysis for tumor markers needed?

You should undergo an examination with a prolonged deterioration in well-being in the form of weakness, constant low temperature, fatigue, weight loss, anemia of unknown origin, swollen lymph nodes, the appearance of seals in the mammary glands, changes in the color and size of moles, disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, accompanied by discharge of blood after defecation, obsessive cough without signs of infection, etc.

Additional reasons are:

• age over 40;
• oncology in a family history;
• going beyond the norm of indicators of biochemical analysis and KLA;
• pain or prolonged dysfunction of any organs or systems, even to a slight extent.

The analysis does not take much time, while helping to identify a life-threatening disease in time and cure it in the least traumatic ways. In addition, such examinations should become regular (at least once a year) for those who have relatives with oncology or have crossed the age limit of forty.

How to prepare for the test for oncomarkers

Blood for research on antigens is donated from a vein in the morning. The results are issued within 1-3 days, and in order for them to be reliable, certain recommendations must be followed:

• do not have breakfast;
• do not take any medications and vitamins the day before;
• three days before making a cancer diagnosis by a blood test, exclude alcohol;
• do not take fatty and fried foods the day before;
• a day before the study, exclude heavy physical exertion;
• on the day of delivery, do not smoke in the morning (smoking increases CEA);
• so that third-party factors do not distort the indicators, first cure all infections.

After receiving the results on hand, one should not draw any independent conclusions and make diagnoses. This blood test for cancer does not have 100% certainty and requires instrumental confirmation.

Every year, about half a million Russians are diagnosed with cancer, about 280 thousand of our citizens die because of this disease. Moreover, if a neoplasm is detected at the first or second stage, then it can be cured in about 95% of cases. On the eve of World Cancer Day, Director of the Herzen Moscow Cancer Research Institute, Professor Andrey Kaprin told RIA Novosti about how to detect cancer at an early stage, what examinations should be taken and how to minimize the risk of cancer. Interviewed by Tatyana Stepanova.

- Andrey Dmitrievich, tell us how things are in the country today with the incidence and mortality of the population from malignant tumors?

- In the structure of mortality of the population, malignant neoplasms take the second place (14.9%) after cardiovascular diseases (54.8%).

Approximately 480 thousand new cases of cancer are detected annually, and more than 280 thousand patients die. Of these, a sufficiently large number of people of working age (15.5%). This situation is largely due to the fact that people seek medical help late. In the advanced stage, cancer is detected in every fifth patient, and this leads to the fact that mortality in the first year after diagnosis in our country reaches 26%. And in the treatment of cancer at an early stage, the 10-year survival rate reaches 95% or more.

Basically, the disease is diagnosed in elderly people - from 60 years and above. The probability of developing cancer in men under the age of 60 is 8.2%, in women at this age - 8.7%. And after the age of 60, these figures look like this: 21.6% for men and 17.3% for women. Thus, the longer the life expectancy in the country, the more attention should be paid to preventive examinations.

In those Russian regions where there is a high depopulation of cities and villages (young people leave, the elderly stay), mortality from malignant neoplasms indirectly increases, while the detection rate remains the same. At our institute, we maintain the All-Russian Cancer Registry, and this is nothing but the best epidemiological study, thanks to which we receive all the information on oncological diseases in the regions.

— In what regions have succeeded in the treatment of cancer?

- In Kazan, in Khabarovsk, they work quite well to identify and treat such patients. There, primary care physicians have oncological alertness, special tests are taken en masse: for men - for prostate specific antigen (PSA), for women - for CA 125. These studies make it possible to detect prostate cancer in men and cervical cancer in women at an early stage. In women, unfortunately, the oncological incidence of this particular localization is now growing very strongly. For ten years, the increase was about 30% among women in general, and at the age of up to 29 years old it almost doubled, up to 44 years old - 1.5 times. We believe that this is due to the early onset of sexual activity, promiscuity and the spread of the human papillomavirus.

- What research should be done for men, women and at what age in order to diagnose the disease at an early stage?

Women over 39 should have regular cervical and breast examinations. Men from the age of 45 should be examined by a urologist for prostate cancer. A very important indicator can be occult blood in the stool. For women and men over 45 years of age, we recommend taking an analysis to detect it.

Despite the prevalence of these diseases, lung cancer is still in the first place. Unfortunately, fluorography is not enough to detect it at an early stage, so we recommend that you undergo an x-ray examination annually. Skin cancer is also a fairly common neoplasm.

Moreover, the most malignant tumor of the skin is localized on the back, on the shoulder blade. Unfortunately, she is not very worried at the beginning of the disease.

— Does this mean that sunbathing is harmful?

— Of course, this is a disgrace when we go to regions where the sun bakes very strongly, and do not think at all about protecting the skin. When the local population wears completely closed clothes, we lie in the direct rays of the sun and "sunbathe" - this is no good. I also think that we have a lot of unlicensed tanning salons, the activities of which no one controls, this has been written about more than once.

— Can a person himself suspect or recognize the first signs of cancer in himself?

- A person can suspect lung cancer only at a late stage of the disease or when the bronchus is affected and coughing, hemoptysis appears. Until then, he had been completely asymptomatic. Of course, at the initial stage, lung cancer can be seen on an x-ray, but the radiologist must also be experienced and competent.

Therefore, I do not cease to repeat: women should have an annual ultrasound of the mammary glands and mammography. Men should see a doctor if they have urinary problems. I need to get my blood tested for PSA. It does not require special preparation, does not take much time.

— Why do you think some of our citizens prefer to be treated abroad?

– Modern medicine has no boundaries, the best ways to deal with the disease are quickly becoming available to doctors from different countries. Treatment both abroad and in our country is carried out according to the same international protocols. Nevertheless, there are those who prefer to go to a foreign clinic. Everyone has their own reason for this. Some doctors have ceased to keep medical secrets. If a person takes certain positions, he, of course, does not want his illnesses to become public. The second reason is that some charitable organizations collect money for help abroad, in fact, children are treated in our clinics, and charitable organizations help these centers survive.

And, finally, rehabilitation after surgical interventions is still poorly developed in our country. Operations our experts do not worse. We recently discharged a 19-year-old girl who was denied treatment in Germany as inoperable. She had an extensive malignant retrosternal tumor. And after we operated on her, the mother of this girl showed the pictures to the German doctors. They applauded for three minutes. The girl is now at work.

— Do you think it is necessary to change the order of clinical examination, especially in terms of examinations for cancer? Can primary care physicians detect a tumor in the first or second stage?

— The oncological component of the medical examination of the adult population involves two stages. At the first stage, a risk group is identified using the studies that we talked about. At the second stage, the diagnosis is specified. I believe that the medical examination in the form in which it is now taking place is fully justified.

“Early diagnosis of cancer would significantly reduce mortality. Nevertheless, unfortunately, most people in Russia prefer not to be examined, but live according to the principle “until the thunder breaks ...” How to convince the population not to adhere to this rule?

- Convince, show, prove. For example, on the basis of our institute, we created the National Center for Oncology of the Reproductive Organs, the purpose of which is to strengthen cooperation between doctors and patients and popularize medical knowledge in this area.

Starting this year, regularly on Saturdays, we began to hold open days for residents of the neighboring Northern District, inviting them to free primary diagnostics of the most common diseases. And we do it quite successfully - people go and check.

In order to organize a direct channel of communication with the population, to receive feedback, together with the prefecture of the Northern District, we created the Public Committee "Medkontrol" and intend, in cooperation with public organizations, to monitor how medical care is provided in our city. These measures, I am sure, will increase the level of mutual trust and medical literacy of the population.

— How can you minimize your risk of developing cancer?

- Among the main causes that form the incidence of cancer, as statistics show, the leading position is occupied by malnutrition - up to 35%. In second place is smoking - up to 32%. Thus, two-thirds of cancer cases are due to these factors. We also recommend not to get involved in tanning, do not use products with dyes. And see your doctor regularly.

Cancer is a serious disease during which a malignant tumor is formed in the body, which has symptoms characteristic only of it, as well as non-specific signs. By listening to your body, you can diagnose the disease at an early stage and immediately begin treatment. After all, it is very important to recognize the disease when it is still possible to correct everything and save a human life. Any sudden change in health should be a reason to see a doctor. Sudden weight loss, a fever for no apparent reason, or a change in skin color can be signs of cancer or another disease. You should not self-medicate, wait until it passes by itself, it is better to contact a specialist and get tested.

Attention, cancer: symptoms and signs!

If diarrhea or constipation has become the norm, and the color and volume of feces have also changed, then these are the first signs of colon cancer.

If the process of urination has become frequent and painful, and blood impurities are distinguished in the urine, then these symptoms indicate problems with the prostate gland.

Wounds that do not pass for a long time, cuts that can fester and bleed, are fraught with danger. Small sores in the mouth, vagina, and penis that do not heal for a long time are also a cause for concern, as they indicate the presence of an infection in the body and, possibly, the primary signs of cancer.

Purulent and spotting indicate a neglected disease in the body. Coughing up blood often indicates signs of lung cancer. Detection of feces in the blood testifies, at best, to colitis, and at worst, to a malignant neoplasm. Isolation of blood from the nipples can be a symptom of breast cancer, from the vagina - the cervix. One of the early manifestations of a cancerous tumor is lumps in some parts of the body, such as the female breast and scrotum. You can diagnose them yourself with a regular examination of your own body. If you feel them, you should immediately go to the doctor. Regular problems with the gastrointestinal tract, as well as difficulty in swallowing food, are signs of stomach or intestinal cancer.

Signs of lung cancer usually manifest as hoarseness, a choking cough that does not stop for a long time. It is difficult to identify throat cancer, the first signs of which are similar to cold symptoms. This is a hoarse voice, perhaps its complete disappearance, inflammation of the lymph nodes, coughing and putrid breath.

Neoplasms in the form of moles, warts characterize a disease such as melanoma, which can be cured at the initial stage.

Nonspecific primary signs of cancer

There are a number of symptoms that are characteristic of the onset of various diseases that are not as dangerous as cancer. People attribute their illness to them, not thinking about the fact that everything is much more serious.

Sudden weight loss for no apparent reason. Almost all cancer patients lose a lot of weight, especially when it comes to diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

An elevated temperature indicates that there is an infection in the human body that depresses the immune system, and therefore the body throws all its strength into fighting it. But, as a rule, an increase in temperature does not occur in the initial stages of the disease. So the involvement of temperature in oncology should be considered only if there are additional signs.

The formed tumor can cause pain. Pain indicates a serious lesion of the whole system in the body.

Changes in the skin in the form of manifestations of urticaria, jaundice, increased pigmentation.

What is cancer, signs of organ damage

So, consider the main types of pathology and their symptoms.

Stomach cancer

It never develops suddenly in perfectly healthy tissues. It is preceded by such disorders of the stomach as gastritis, ulcers. Scientists have proven that a certain variety of the disease is attached to each geographical area. For example, where people often get bowel cancer, there are almost no cases of diagnosing tumors in the stomach.

Reasons for the appearance of malignant tumors:

The use of products containing nitrates, as well as salty, pickled, smoked products, dishes cooked on an open fire;
. removal of part of the stomach by surgery;
. chronic inflammation of the mucous membranes of the stomach.

An interesting fact was discovered by doctors: people with the first blood group are most often affected by stomach cancer.

Symptoms of the disease:

Feeling of discomfort and pain in the stomach after eating;
. sudden weight loss and lack of appetite;
. frequent bloating, heartburn, regurgitation, nausea, bouts of vomiting, flatulence;
. low iron levels;
. fast fatiguability;
. black stool (due to bleeding inside the stomach).

The main problem is that small tumors that can be simply cut out usually do not cause such symptoms.

breast cancer

The main reason for the development of breast cancer is hormonal changes in the female body. Such adjustments occur during pregnancy and lactation, after abortion, at the time of menopause. The hormone estrogen is most often responsible for the development of the disease, namely its increased concentration, which occurs during abortion and menopause. When carrying and breastfeeding a child, this hormone is practically not produced. Therefore, it is believed that prolonged breastfeeding is an excellent prevention of malignant tumors. Estrogen is produced in large quantities by the fatty tissues present in the body. Accordingly, the more of them, the more hormone is produced.

The first signs of breast cancer are discharge from the nipple and nodules, which feel like stone, tightly fixed in the breast tissues. Their sizes can be from a couple to 10-15 centimeters in diameter. The skin over the nodule is pulled inward, wrinkled, resembling a lemon peel.

Skin cancer

The main cause of skin cancer development is long-term or short-term, but strong exposure of the skin to UV radiation. It has been noticed that light-skinned and fair-haired people are susceptible to this disease, as they are more sensitive to the effects of ultraviolet rays.

It is possible to identify skin cancer on your own, signs of the transformation of a mole into a malignant neoplasm are visible to the naked eye. It can grow both horizontally and increase in volume, become asymmetrical and non-uniform in color. Often, the mole gets wet, bleeds and itches, hair stops growing on it and the existing ones fall out. The skin around it becomes inflamed, and it itself becomes crusted and flaky. A mole can grow into small nodules, become loose, glossy.

To make sure that this is definitely cancer, it is not enough to reveal the signs, you should immediately consult a doctor and take smears, scrapings, a biopsy, if necessary, conduct an ultrasound examination of the affected tissues, check them for metastases.

Lungs' cancer

Most often, in the early stages, signs of lung cancer practically do not appear. That is why people learn about the development of this disease in the body during scheduled medical examinations or too late to count on a positive outcome of treatment. It is difficult to identify it in oneself without the help of doctors, since the symptoms are similar to many other diseases. But still, there are signs of lung cancer that you can identify yourself. This is a cough, bronchitis with pneumonia, occurring for no apparent reason. In the process of tumor growth, certain parts of the organ stop working, causing shortness of breath.

A common symptom that the majority complains about is pain in the chest area, namely where the neoplasm is localized, fever and an indistinct heart rhythm. In the future, if the initial stage of the disease is not recognized, the cancer will show more serious and characteristic signs, but you should not wait for them, as you can miss the moment when there is still a chance to be cured. In addition, lung cancer has severe symptoms only if it is located in the large bronchi.

throat cancer

It is difficult to detect throat cancer at the initial stage, the first signs are very similar to a common cold. Until now, doctors have not come to an unambiguous conclusion: where does this disease come from. However, there are statistics that show that it occurs mainly in men, especially in smokers and drinkers. Old age, poor oral hygiene, work in hazardous industries, genetic predisposition, low consumption of vegetables and fruits, the presence of cancerous tumors in the neck and head - all this can cause the progression of cancer in the human body.

Hoarseness in the voice, its complete loss is possible;
. pain when swallowing, difficulty in this process;
. the smell of decay coming from the mouth;
. the inability to cure a dry cough that does not go away for a long time;
. expectoration of bloody sputum;
. the lymph nodes in the neck are inflamed and enlarged;
. breathing difficulties associated with tumor growth;
. loss of appetite, and with it rapid weight loss;
. hearing loss, ear pain.

If a malignant formation develops in the upper part of the larynx, then a person’s teeth hurt and fall out, and it tickles in the throat. If the cancer has struck the lower throat region, then pain is felt, similar to a sore throat.

Signs of cancer in women may be somewhat different from the classic ones, since the disease is more aggressive due to increased levels of estrogen. They become irritable, get tired faster, the menstrual cycle is disturbed. They recorded cases of bleeding from the upper respiratory tract and more blood in the sputum. Cancer in women is detected earlier, as they are more attentive to their bodies and seek medical help more often. Men make up 90% of the total number of people who are diagnosed with throat cancer, they can ignore the first signs, attributing them to general malaise and fatigue.

Uterine cancer

A very common ailment that affects women over 40 years of age. What can contribute to its development? There are a lot of reasons: hypertension, diabetes mellitus, nicotine addiction, the presence of human papillomavirus in the body, HIV, frequent change of partners, early pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, irregular menstrual cycle, late onset of menopause. The risk group includes women overweight more than 10 kg. Uterine cancer can be predicted in advance, since its precursors are erosive processes, the formation of ulcers and scars after childbirth, the growth of the endometrium and the presence of constant inflammatory processes.

The classic signs of uterine cancer that all women complain about are whitish discharge, bleeding and soreness. But all this does not appear at the very beginning. In this regard, there are a number of difficulties in order to immediately recognize uterine cancer. Signs and symptoms of the initial stages of the disease - mucous discharge with impurities of pus, blood, appearing after exertion and tension of the pelvic muscles. The cycle is often disrupted, and going to the toilet becomes frequent and painful, which indicates the progression of the disease, which has already reached the bladder. If at first the discharge may be odorless, then in the last stages they acquire an unpleasant putrefactive odor. A significant reason to see a doctor is spotting, even if minor, in menopausal women. The insidiousness of the disease is that it is impossible to identify such a woman outwardly, because she looks fresh and cheerful, only in the last stages weight loss is observed.

Cervical cancer

This cancer that affects the cervix is ​​the most common among other types of cancer of the genital organs. The risk group includes women from 35 to 55 years. According to statistics, this disease is more common in Hispanic women than in European women. This disease is predicted by the erosions and dysplasia that precede it, so it can be detected in the early stages, and therefore cured. If you do this on time, you can save a woman the opportunity to give birth to children and lead a full sexual life. The main causative agent of cervical cancer is the human papillomavirus. It is sexually transmitted, even a condom does not protect, as its cells are very small and penetrate through the smallest pores in the latex. In addition, the virus is located not only on the genitals, but also on adjacent areas of the skin. There are a number of other factors: smoking, frequent sexual intercourse with different partners, sexually transmitted diseases, constant weight loss, AIDS. They can cause cancer. Signs in the early stages do not appear. The woman does not experience any discomfort.

It is necessary to undergo annual scheduled examinations by a gynecologist, to take tests. These procedures will help to detect early signs of cervical cancer. Symptoms characteristic of this disease:

Bleeding that occurs after sex, examination by a gynecologist, between periods, and also after the onset of menopause;
. change in the duration of the cycle, color and volume of menstrual flow;
. an increase in the volume of vaginal discharge. They become white, streaked with blood, and in later stages take on the color and smell of rotting meat waste.
. feeling pain during sex;
. pain in the lumbar region and lower abdomen;
. weight loss;
. constipation and problems with urination, as a result of which the legs begin to swell;
. increased fatigue and general weakness.

It is worth noting that all these signs can manifest themselves not only in cervical cancer, but also in almost all diseases of the genital organs. Therefore, it is necessary to seek help from qualified gynecologists and oncologists.

testicular cancer

This is a fairly rare, but still occurring male cancer. However, it is one of its most aggressive forms, affecting men under 40 years of age. The causes can be both congenital benign tumors, and injuries, infertility. The main reason is cryptochism, when the testicle did not descend into the scrotum. Cancer is genetically transmitted and affects more Europeans than African Americans.

To prevent the development of cancer in your body, you need to engage in prevention, lead a healthy lifestyle, eat right. Nutrition plays a very important role in maintaining health. Indeed, the development of some forms of this disease, such as cancer of the stomach or intestines, is promoted by harmful fatty foods stuffed with preservatives. The stomach is not able to digest it, and it begins to rot. It is very important to visit doctors regularly for preventive examinations. If, nevertheless, cancer was discovered, then you should not think that this is a sentence and life ends there. Timely diagnosis gives very high rates of recovery.