| It is sometimes difficult to diagnose cancer, in part | | | | that has spread to the liver or kidneys. This type |
| because there are so many different types and | | | | of cancer is much more difficult to treat, and will |
| consequently a wide variety of symptoms that | | | | require very aggressive treatment. |
| may be experienced. Worse still many of the | | | | Because cancer can involve so many different |
| symptoms of cancer may also point to other | | | | types of body tissue, it is difficult to state what |
| conditions. Cancer is categorized in two ways. First | | | | the symptoms of cancer are. In general some of |
| by the area of the body that is affected by the | | | | the symptoms most commonly seen across all |
| disease and secondly by the severity of the | | | | types of the disease include:o Fatigue- this is the |
| disease. Virtually any part of the human body can | | | | most universally experienced cancer symptom. |
| be attacked by cancerous cells. The most | | | | Cancerous cells steal energy from healthy cells as |
| commonly diagnosed cancers in the U.S. include | | | | well as forcing the body to use energy fighting |
| lung cancer, breast and cervical cancers, and | | | | the disease. Oftentimes, patients become anemic, |
| leukemia (cancer of the blood). | | | | which also contributes to the fatigue. Any type of |
| Different populations are at risk for different | | | | chronic, severe fatigue should be checked out by |
| types of the disease-for example breast cancer | | | | a physician.o Unexplained, sudden or extreme |
| can affect men but is much more commonly | | | | weight loss: This is often one of the first |
| diagnosed in women. After an initial diagnosis of | | | | symptoms that are noticed. A sudden |
| cancer, say for example lung cancer, is made the | | | | unintentional weight loss of ten pounds or more |
| disease is categorized as being in Stage I, Stage | | | | should indicate that you need to see an MD.o |
| II, Stage III or Stage IV. Stage I is the least | | | | Fevers and chronic illness: Feeling constantly |
| invasive form of the disease, as it refers to | | | | run-down, running a low-grade fever frequently |
| cancer that has only invaded the layer of cells | | | | and generally being ill much of the time may point |
| that it originated in. Cancers that are caught at | | | | to a suppressed or stressed immune system. If |
| this early stage have an excellent prognosis with | | | | you have been chronically sick, a physician should |
| prompt treatment. | | | | give you a good checkup. |
| Stages II and III involve cancers that have | | | | All of these symptoms can be signs of another |
| spread to areas around the original site, but have | | | | condition besides cancer or of no medical condition |
| not yet affected other body organs or systems. | | | | at all, but it is always a good idea to make a |
| While these patients may require more aggressive | | | | doctor appointment if you feel that something is |
| treatment, chances for a full recovery are still | | | | not quite right. In the case of cancer, early |
| very good. Stage IV cancers involve disease that | | | | detection gives you the best chance for a full |
| has spread beyond the original site to other body | | | | remission. |
| systems or organs. For example, stomach cancer | | | | |