With a healthy balance between denial and hypochondria in mind, WebMD asked experts to list some symptoms of cancer that may not immediately be a concern but that should be checked out.
No. 1: Unexplained Weight Loss (10 pounds in a month without an increase in exercise or a decrease in food intake) should be checked out.
No. 2: If Bloating, abdominal, pain, or pelvic pain, or feeling full quickly persist for more than several weeks, consult your physician.
No. 3: Breast Changes – Redness and thickening of the skin on the breast or any change in appearance could be a worrisome symptom.
No. 4: Unusual Bleeding after menopause could be a symptom of endometrial or colorectal cancer.
No. 5: Skin Changes – Changes in moles or in skin pigmentation, or bleeding on your skin or excessive scaling should be checked.
No. 6: Difficulty Swallowing – Difficulty swallowing could be a sign of a GI cancer, such as in the esophagus.
No. 7: Blood in the Wrong Place – If you notice blood in your urine or stool, if it happens more than once, go see your doctor.
No. 8: Gnawing Abdominal Pain and Depression – Any woman who has a pain in the abdomen and is feeling depressed needs a checkup. Some researchers have found a link between depression and pancreatic cancer, but it’s a poorly understood connection.
No. 9: Mouth Changes – Smokers should be alert for any white patches inside the mouth or white spots on the tongue, which can point to a precancerous condition called leukoplakia that can progress to oral cancer.
No. 10: Changes in the Lymph Nodes – A lump or swelling in the lymph nodes under the armpit or in the neck could be worrisome.
No. 11: Fever – A fever that isn’t explained by influenza or another infection could point to leukemia or lymphoma. Other cancer symptoms can include jaundice, or a change in the color of your stool.
No. 12: Fatigue – Fatigue is another vague symptom that could point to cancer – as well as a host of other problems.
No. 13: Persistent Cough – Coughs are expected with colds, the flu, allergies, and sometimes are a side effect of medications. But a prolonged cough lasting more than three or four weeks should not be ignored.