15 Cancer Symptoms Men Shouldn't Ignore

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One of the best ways to fight cancer is to treat it in its early stages. However, early signs of cancer in men are vague and easily overlooked. Knowing 15 common cancer symptoms in men can partly help "brothers" have the opportunity to examine and treat the disease early, with a good prognosis.

1. Trouble urinating

Many men often have some problems when urinating, especially older people, such as:
Need to urinate more often, especially at night; Leaky urine or leakage of urine ; Sudden, urgent need to urinate / need to urinate; Difficulty initiating urination, or weak urine stream; There is a burning sensation when urinating. An enlarged prostate is a common cause of these symptoms, but prostate cancer can also present similar symptoms. Therefore, you should see your doctor to check the cause of the problem. The steps of examination, medical examination, diagnosis of prostate enlargement, as well as PSA blood test to help detect prostate cancer may be ordered.

2. Testicular changes

If a man detects a lump, feels heavy or any other change in the testicles, do not delay the examination to find the cause soon. Unlike prostate cancer, which usually grows slowly, testicular cancer can progress extremely quickly. Your doctor will do a physical exam, do blood tests and an ultrasound of your scrotum to make a diagnosis.

3. Blood in stool or urine

This can be one of the first signs of bladder, kidney or colon cancer. Men should see a doctor if they notice unusual bleeding, even if there are no other symptoms. Although many cases of blood in the stool or urine are not cancer in men, but are often caused by hemorrhoids or a urinary infection, finding the cause and treating it early is still important.

4. Change skin

When you notice a change in the size, shape or color of your mole, see your doctor as soon as possible. New spots that appear and look quite unusual are the first signs of skin cancer. The doctor will do a physical exam in conjunction with a biopsy - removing a small piece of tissue for testing to help diagnose skin cancer.

5. Lymph node changes

Lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped glands located in the neck, armpits, and other places in the body. Swollen, painful lymph nodes are often a sign of something wrong going on inside, most commonly when the immune system is fighting a sore throat or cold. However, some cancers in men can also change the lymph nodes. If swelling or pain doesn't get better after 2-4 weeks, you should check with your doctor.

6. Difficulty swallowing

Some people will have difficulty swallowing from time to time and this is quite normal. But if your problem persists, is accompanied by weight loss or vomiting, it could be a warning sign of throat or stomach cancer. To make a diagnosis, your doctor will examine your throat and take an X-ray with barium (you'll drink a special liquid that helps your throat stand out on an X-ray).

7. Heartburn

You can improve heartburn by changing your diet, drinking habits and reducing stress. If that doesn't work, see your doctor for a careful examination. Heartburn that doesn't go away, or gets worse, can signal stomach or throat cancer. This symptom can also lead to Barrett's esophagus - when stomach acid damages the lining of the esophagus. Although rare, sometimes Barrett's will increase the risk of throat cancer.

8. Changes in the mouth

Men who smoke have a higher risk of oral cancer. Watch out for sores, white, red, gray, or yellow patches in your mouth or on your lips. A doctor or dentist can check for this condition, as well as order tests to do and recommend treatment.

9. Losing weight for no reason

If you notice that your usual clothes are a bit looser, but there are no changes in your diet or exercise habits, you may be under stress or have thyroid problems. Suddenly losing 4.5 kg or more for no apparent reason is unusual. Although most weight loss is not a sign of cancer in men, it can also signal pancreatic, stomach, or lung cancer. Your doctor can find out what's causing weight loss through detailed blood tests and imaging, like a CT or PET scan.

10. Fever

Fever is a sign that your body is fighting an infection and is not usually a bad sign. But if the fever persists and does not go down and the cause is unknown, it can be a warning of leukemia or blood cancer. Your doctor will take your medical history and order a physical exam to find out the cause.

11. Changes in breasts

In 2017 alone, 2,470 men were diagnosed with breast cancer. Men tend to ignore breast lumps because breast cancer is not on the list of common male cancers. However, the reality shows that more and more men are being diagnosed with this disease. Therefore, do not be subjective to any signs of cancer in men. Early detection is the key to successful treatment.

12. Tired

Many types of cancer in men make you extremely tired and can't get better even with rest. When fatigue is a sign of cancer in men, it's different from what it feels like after a busy week or fatigue due to a lot of activity. If your fatigue is so severe that it interferes with your daily life, talk to your doctor to find out the cause and treatment.

13. Flowers

In non-smokers, a persistent cough is not usually a sign of cancer in men and will clear up on its own in 3 to 4 weeks. If your cough doesn't go away, is accompanied by shortness of breath or coughing up blood, you should see a doctor soon, especially if you are a smoker. Cough is the most common manifestation of lung cancer. Your doctor may check mucus from your lungs for signs of infection. You will also have a chest X-ray to detect other problems.

14. Pain

Most pain isn't a sign of cancer in men, but if you've been in pain for more than a month, don't continue to suffer. Persistent pain can be a warning signal for many types of cancer in men, including bone or brain cancer, especially those with widespread tumors.

15. Abdominal pain and depression

Although very rare, depression along with stomach pain can be a sign of pancreatic cancer. If no one in your family has it, don't worry too much, because pancreatic cancer is often hereditary. Men just need to see a doctor to find out the cause and the appropriate treatment.
Although still eating quite well and exercising regularly most days of the week, men, especially those from middle age onwards, should still go for a general health check and regular cancer screening. period. This can help detect signs of cancer in men early and treat it at an early stage, increasing the chances of a cure.
Cancer inherently does not spare anyone, it is estimated that every year in the world, a very large proportion of people die from cancer. In fact, if cancer can be detected at an early stage, the prognosis for treatment is very high, even if it is completely cured and not recurred. Therefore, screening for cancer is essential, especially for high-risk patients.
Currently, Vinmec International General Hospital has been implementing cancer screening packages, including the General (Intensive) Cancer Early Detection Package - Male. At Vinmec, there are fully modern diagnostic facilities such as: PET/CT, SPECT/CT, MRI..., blood marrow test, histopathology, immunohistochemistry test, gene test, lab test molecular biology, as well as a full range of targeted drugs, the most advanced immunotherapy drugs in cancer treatment. Multimodal cancer treatment from surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, targeted therapy, immunotherapy in cancer treatment, new treatments such as autoimmunotherapy body, heat therapy...
After having an accurate diagnosis of the disease and stage, the patient will be consulted to choose the most appropriate and effective treatment methods. The treatment process is always closely coordinated with many specialties: Diagnostic Imaging, Biochemistry, Immunology, Cardiology, Stem Cell and Gene Technology; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Endocrinology, Department of Rehabilitation, Department of Psychology, Department of Nutrition... to bring the highest efficiency and comfort to patients. After undergoing the treatment phase, the patient will also be monitored and re-examined to determine whether the cancer treatment is effective or not.
To register for examination and treatment at Vinmec International General Hospital, please book an appointment on the website for service.
Reference source: webmd.com

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