Dr. Leonard Lichtenfeld is the deputy chief medical officer of the National Office of the American Cancer Society. He recently wrote an article on the website of "Online Doctor of Medicine", pointing out that in order to detect cancer early, men must pay attention to the following 15 symptoms.
Breast lump. Few men pay attention to their breasts, but they do need attention. If you find lumps, sunken or wrinkled skin, sunken nipples, red or keratinized nipples or chest skin, and purulent nipple secretion in the chest, you must seek medical attention in time.
Pain. As men age, they often complain about pain. Most pain has nothing to do with cancer, and some are precursors of cancer.
Testicular changes. Testicular cancer often occurs between 20 and 39 years old. It is recommended that men conduct a testicular self-examination once a month. No matter the testicle is enlarged or shrunk, it is worth noting. If there is swelling, caking or feeling heavy, you should go to the doctor as soon as possible.
Lymph node changes. If you find enlarged lymph nodes or lumps in the armpit or neck, you must go to the hospital.
Fever. Fever of unknown cause may indicate cancer, but it may also be caused by other minor diseases. Most cancers develop fever at some stage, usually when cancer cells migrate from the original site to other parts of the body. In addition, some blood diseases such as leukemia or lymphoma can also cause fever.
Sudden weight loss. If you lose more than 10% of your weight within 3~6 months without dieting or exercising more, you should see a doctor.
Abdominal pain and depression. If you have abdominal pain accompanied by depression, you need to check it. It is likely to be a symptom of pancreatic cancer. Other symptoms of this disease include jaundice, gray stool color, dark urine, and sometimes accompanied by itching.
Fatigue. Fatigue is another fuzzy indicator of cancer, which often occurs in leukemia, rectal cancer or early gastric cancer. If you feel extremely tired and don't get better after rest, you should see a doctor as soon as possible.
Persistent cough. If the cough lasts more than three or four weeks, or the cough pattern changes, you should see a doctor. It may be a sign of cancer, or chronic bronchitis or acid reflux.
Difficulty swallowing. This is usually a concomitant symptom of gastrointestinal cancer such as esophageal cancer.
Skin changes. Many people know that the change of nevus may be a sign of skin cancer, but the change of pigmentation, sudden subcutaneous hemorrhage or large area of keratinization should also be noted.
Abnormal bleeding. If you have blood in your stool and sputum, you must not take it lightly. Blood in stool is not necessarily hemorrhoids, but may be caused by rectal cancer.
Oral changes. If you smoke or chew tobacco, pay special attention to the white spots on your mouth or tongue. It may be mucosal leukoplakia, with a high probability of developing into oral cancer.
Urination problems. Older men tend to have problems with their urinary system. Urgent urination, frequent urination, incontinence when laughing or coughing can all be caused by prostate hyperplasia, which also has the risk of cancer.
Indigestion. Many elderly people often mistake themselves for heart disease when they suffer from severe indigestion. Persistent dyspepsia may be the manifestation of tumors in the esophagus, throat or stomach.
(Intern editor: Lin Yanjuan)