Doctor shares five subtle signs of cancer including what 'cola-coloured' urine means
Cancer symptoms can appear very minor at first, yet any signs of the disease should be assessed by a doctor right away.
Dr Amit Garg, a cancer doctor, has revealed ‘five subtle signs of cancer’ that are worth keeping a look out for.
Alongside a video posted on Instagram (@blooddocdad), Dr Garg writes that if you have ‘red or cola-colored urine’, then it needs to be ‘evaluated’ by a doctor for bladder cancer.
In the UK, bladder cancer sees around 10,900 new cases and 5,900 deaths a year, and is ranked as the 11th most common cancer, according to Cancer Research UK.
Advert
“Blood in the urine is the most common symptom of bladder cancer, but many people delay seeing their GP because the symptom can come and go or may not cause any pain,” Mr Vishwanath Hanchanale, consultant urological and robotic surgeon at UHL Group, said.
“This blood may appear as pink, red, or brown urine, and even a single episode should never be ignored, even if you are on blood-thinning medication. In many cases, the cause will be something less serious, such as an infection or kidney stones, but it’s vital to have it checked so doctors can rule out cancer.
“If bladder cancer is detected, early treatment is often far more effective, which is why anyone who notices blood in their urine should contact their GP as soon as possible.”
A swollen lymph node above the left collarbone
A ‘swollen lymph node above the left collarbone (Virchow’s node)’ could be an early sign of stomach cancer, lung cancer or lymphoma.
Dr Garg writes that persistent, hard or enlarging lump in this area indicates the need for medical assessment rather than being assumed to be an ordinary swollen gland.
A dark streak underneath a nail
According to Dr Garg, a dark streak under a nail needs to be evaluated for melanoma.
Brown or black lines beneath fingernails and toenails have numerous possible causes, but a new or changing streak can occasionally indicate nail melanoma.
New-onset diabetes after 50
Most people who develop diabetes do not have pancreatic cancer.
However, researchers have identified a link between newly diagnosed diabetes later in adulthood and pancreatic cancer.
Living with diabetes for a long time ‘is a known risk factor for pancreatic cancer’, said V. Wendy Setiawan, Ph.D., of the University of Southern California.
Feeling full after only a small meal
Regularly feeling full unusually quickly is known as early satiety. The American Cancer Society lists trouble eating or feeling full quickly among common symptoms associated with ovarian cancer, particularly when the symptom is persistent or represents a change from normal.
According to the American Cancer Society, symptoms of ovarian cancer include bloating, pelvic or abdominal (belly) pain, trouble eating or feeling full quickly and urinary symptoms such as urgency (always feeling like you need to urinate) or frequency (having to urinate often).
Anish Vij