If cancer is not the cause, a doctor can help figure out what the cause is and treat it, if needed. Normal lymph nodes are tiny and can be hard to find. One reason lymph nodes may swell is if cancer gets trapped there.
Here are some of the more common signs and symptoms that may be caused by cancer. However, any of these can be caused by other problems as well. The signs and symptoms listed above are the more common ones seen with cancer, but there are many others that are not listed here.
For example, if a close relative has had cancer of the breast or the colon, you may be more likely to inherit the tendency to develop those cancers, even though you may never actually get them. Some behavioral and environmental triggers can cause changes in the body's cells that push them into a cancerous state. For example, cigarettes are known to increase the risk of lung cancer.
Too much exposure to the sun can increase the risk of skin cancer. These types of triggers act on the body slowly over time, so the cancers that may result from them don't show up until a person is an adult.
That's one reason why teens don't get the same types of cancers as adults do. Doctors do know for sure that cancer itself is not contagious, so you don't have to worry about catching it from someone else or spreading it to another person although people with certain infectious diseases such as AIDS or hepatitis are more vulnerable to certain cancers. Cancer is also never a person's fault. It's simply not true that a person may have done something wrong to get the disease.
The first sign of cancer is a symptom — a signal that something is wrong. There are many different signs that a person may have cancer, just as there are many different forms of the disease. A few of the more common symptoms of cancer include:.
Only you know how your body works and what you feel like when you're healthy. If you haven't been feeling well, it's best to tell an adult who can make sure you see a doctor who will evaluate your symptoms. Cancer, like most illnesses, is easier to treat when it's found early, so when in doubt, check it out. When cancer is suspected, doctors will order various tests. These might include blood tests , in which blood cells are examined under a microscope for problems, X-rays , or an MRI , a test that can be used to detect tumors.
A doctor who specializes in treating people with cancer is called an oncologist pronounced: ahn-KOL-uh-jist. They often use a biopsy pronounced: BYE-op-see to diagnose cancer.
In this procedure, a doctor removes a small tissue sample to examine it for cancer cells. Most cancers can be treated, especially the types of cancers teens are likely to get. The number of people who beat cancer goes up every year because of new cancer treatments. The three common methods for treating cancer are: surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Because cancer is different in each patient, each person's treatment plan will be individually designed for him or her. Someone with cancer may undergo any one of these treatments or a combination of them.
Others only have issues when the cancer has spread throughout their body. Checkups and screening tests may be able to detect certain cancers in your body before they start affecting you. Ask your doctor if you should have any special tests. If you have a family history of a certain cancer or have been exposed to specific risk factors, your physician may perform more aggressive testing.
Ask your healthcare provider about any screening tests or procedures that might be appropriate. By subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Health Topics. Health Tools. Reviewed: October 30, Medically Reviewed.
Cancer can cause almost any type of sign or symptom. Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking. Signs and Symptoms of Cancer. American Cancer Society. August 11, Mayo Clinic. May 23, 5 Early Signs of Ovarian Cancer. Rush University Medical Center. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. September 17, Cancer Symptoms. Cancer Treatment Centers of America.
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