4. Persistent Cough or Hoarseness

A cough that doesn’t go away, especially if it lasts more than a few weeks, can be an early sign of lung cancer. Persistent hoarseness can also indicate cancers of the throat, larynx (voice box), or thyroid. While coughs and hoarseness can occur with colds or allergies, a cough that is accompanied by blood or worsens over time should be investigated.

5. Unusual Bleeding or Discharge

Unusual bleeding can occur in various types of cancer. For example, blood in the stool can be a sign of colorectal cancer, while blood in the urine can indicate bladder or kidney cancer. For women, abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge, especially between periods or after menopause, could signal uterine or cervical cancer. Unexplained bleeding from other areas, such as coughing up blood or unusual nasal bleeding, should also be addressed immediately.

6. Changes in Bowel or Bladder Habits

Changes in bowel habits like prolonged diarrhea, constipation, or a change in the shape and color of stool (such as narrow, pencil-thin stools) could be warning signs of colorectal cancer. Blood in the stool is a particularly concerning sign. Similarly, changes in urinary habits, such as frequent urination, pain during urination, or blood in the urine, may be linked to cancers of the bladder, kidney, or prostate.

7. Lumps or Thickened Areas

A lump or thickened area in the breast, testicle, or other areas of the body could indicate cancer. Cancerous lumps are often painless, firm, and immovable, although not all lumps are cancerous. Breast cancer and testicular cancer are particularly associated with lumps, but lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, or groin that become swollen or persistently enlarged may also indicate cancers of the lymphatic system or other malignancies.