The innocent symptoms of tumors

Frequent respiratory infections, a cold that lasts more than 2 weeks should not be underestimated. If the patient also has enlarged lymph nodes or is weakened, blood tests should be performed. This condition may accompany neoplastic diseases of the lymphatic system: Hodgkin’s disease or non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas. Hodgkin’s disease, called Hodgkin’s disease in Poland, affects 800 to 1000 people annually. Men get sick more often. The peak incidence is observed in two age groups between 18 – 25 (up to 30) and 50 – 55 years of age. The basic tests for lymphoma detection are: blood counts and ESR (the norm ranges from 10 to 20 depending on gender, in the case of neoplastic diseases, it reaches 70-80 or even 100), determination of the enzyme LDH (characteristic for lymphomas). Liver enzymes, urea, creatinine, and sugar levels should also be marked. Chest X-ray, made from the front and side, and ultrasound of the abdominal cavity are also very important. Photo Shutterstock

A severe headache, accompanied by nausea, vomiting should worry us. Especially if it is accompanied by paresis, speech, vision and hearing disorders. These symptoms may suggest a brain tumor. But it is worth remembering that in the first stage of the development of a brain tumor, the only symptom of the disease may be only a change in mood or behavior. It is harder for the sick person to concentrate, they may experience facial muscles twitching or have, in the seemingly innocent, memory disorders. In children, morning pain and nausea are quite common symptoms, after which the child begins to vomit. In over 7 percent children have hormonal disorders that prevent the child from growing and developing. A simple test that determines further diagnostics is the fundus examination and EEG, i.e. the study of the electrical activity of the brain. If the results of these tests are not unequivocally favorable to the patient, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging of the head should be performed to confirm or rule out a brain tumor. Neurosurgical treatment

Weakness, fatigue, bone pain, swelling, more frequent infections, constipation and arrhythmias are one of the main symptoms of multiple myeloma. Pain in the lumbar region is also a common symptom. Blood tests show increased levels of protein in the blood or urine, and often three-digit ESR. Multiple myeloma is extremely rare in children, adolescents and young adults. In adults, the incidence of multiple myeloma increases with age. Multiple myeloma is more common among men. Photo Shutterstock

Lymphadenopathy is very common in mild infections such as colds. However, if this condition persists for a long time, consult your doctor. Lymphadenopathy may be a symptom of, inter alia, leukemia or lymphoma.

The cause of heartburn are often neurotic disorders, but in the vast majority of cases, the ailment is a consequence of the backflow of the acidic contents of the stomach into the esophagus, and even in the oral cavity. This phenomenon, known as gastroesophageal reflux, is caused by impaired function of the natural barrier between the esophagus and the stomach (primarily the lower esophageal sphincter). Heartburn can also be a symptom of functional dyspepsia, malignant neoplasm, biliary tract diseases or gastritis. The latter develops as a result of an imbalance between protective factors and aggression factors, including Helicobacter pylori infection. Long-term infection with this bacterium may contribute to the development of stomach cancer. Therefore, you should not treat this symptom yourself, but go to a specialist doctor to diagnose the problem. Photo Shutterstock

Any cancer that develops in the abdominal cavity can cause chronic abdominal pain. This mainly applies to cancers of the digestive system, such as pancreatic, liver and stomach cancer. Bloating or enlargement of the abdomen, pelvic pain or tightness, difficulty eating or a rapid feeling of fullness, and the common urge to urinate frequently, may be associated with the development of ovarian cancer or other cancers of the genitourinary system. A simple method for diagnosing abdominal pain is abdominal ultrasound, as well as computed tomography. Photo Shutterstock

Frequent diarrhea or constipation, and a change in the rhythm and consistency of bowel movements, may be signs of changes in the lining of the gut, including colorectal cancer. Blood in the stool should be a particularly disturbing symptom. The disease may be accompanied by persistent, gradually worsening anemia and pale skin, weight loss, and abdominal pain. Men over 60 are more likely to develop colorectal cancer. The cause of colon cancer can be a poor diet, genetic factors, smoking. Photo Shutterstock

Frequent urination by a man is most often the result of a benign enlargement of the prostate gland. But in recent years, the incidence of prostate cancer has risen sharply, and the symptoms are very similar to those of benign lesions. Therefore, every man with the problem of frequent urination should consult a urologist about his problem. Finding prostate cancer early increases the chances of a cure. It is worth having a blood test to determine your PSA value. Its elevated level indicates pathological changes in the prostate. The finding of an increased concentration of PSA is not synonymous with the diagnosis of cancer. Frequent urination with blood may be a symptom of bladder cancer. The symptom of frequent urination may accompany the development of pelvic tumors: cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, etc. Shutterstock

The main cause of chronic cough is cigarette smoking. This cough is the result of irritation caused by the chemicals in cigarette smoke. But the same poisonous compounds that cause a smoker’s cough can also cause much more serious problems such as bronchitis, emphysema, pneumonia and lung cancer. Chronic cough should always be seen as a warning sign by smokers. The accompanying symptoms are particularly disturbing: fever, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, weight loss, weakness, fatigue, loss of appetite, chest pain not caused by coughing, night sweating, wheezing in the lungs. Photo Shutterstock

Chronic hoarseness often accompanies cigarette smokers. Hoarseness is a sign of a weakness in the vocal cords caused by a viral infection, but it can also be caused by cancer of the larynx. Malignant neoplasms of the larynx occur mainly in men, mostly over 60 years of age. Permanent cure is achieved in approximately 70% of the total number of patients, with cure rates in the early stage of cancer growth reaching 96–98%. That is why early diagnosis of the disease is so important. Symptoms of laryngeal cancer are mainly hoarseness, a change in voice, a sensation of an obstacle when swallowing, pain radiating into the ear, shortness of breath, haemoptysis, swollen glands in the neck, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Photo Shutterstock