Breaking the Silence: Understanding the First Signs of Cancer

11/18/2025

Our body is made of trillions of cells and cancer can start from any one of them. Cancer, a cell disorder, starts developing when some body cells proliferate uncontrollably, lose the ability to carry out normal functions, and spread to other body regions. It is always advantageous to stay aware of the early signs and symptoms of cancer. Also, it is crucial to listen to your body and see your doctor if you observe anything abnormal.

Most of the time, cancer does not exhibit specific symptoms. If it does then early detection can have a significant impact on the success of the treatment. If cancer is not detected and treated in its early stages, it can advance to more severe stages becoming potentially fatal.

However, symptoms of certain cancers are not apparent in their early stages because either the body does not exhibit any early cancer signs, or the symptoms may be present and overlap with those of certain non-cancerous illnesses.

In order to rule out major underlying conditions, it is imperative that one must not ignore early cancer signs and see an oncologist upon spotting such signs. The following article covers the early signs and symptoms of cancer, which could help in spotting the cancer early.

Read Also: Breaking Barriers In Cancer Treatment: Innovations In Oncology 

What are Early Signs of Cancer?

Appearance of early symptoms of certain cancers can help people to seek prompt medical assistance. Some early signs of cancer that one should be aware of are as follows:

1. Heavy Night Sweating or Fever

Patients with cancer, typically in the early stages, experience unexplained fevers or intense night sweating due to numerous disorders associated with cancer. These include hormonal changes brought on by some types of cancer and underlying infection.  Heavy night sweats and fever are common symptoms of cancers, including leukaemia, lymphoma, and carcinoid tumours. Leukaemia patients typically have elevated levels of inflammatory mediators, which also lead to fever and excessive perspiration.

2. Unexplained Pain

Both in the early and advanced stages of the cancer, patients may sometimes experience pain. The cause of such pain remains unknown in most of the cases. The pain may originate due to neurological disorders and inflammation associated with cancer. Spinal cord hypersensitivity can be caused by the release of specific growth factors, including chemokines, cytokines, and interleukins. Release of such substances is triggered by cancer cells. Direct tumor-healthy tissue contact can also cause pain. Pain may also happen when the surrounding organs and nerves are compressed by the growing tumour. Changes in the concentrations of specific neurotransmitters can also trigger pain.

3. Excessive Tiredness

Extreme fatigue and persistent tiredness, without a clear cause may be one of the first signs of cancer. Patients in the early stages of the disease have a diminished ability to engage in physical activity because of multifactorial weakness. Cancer cells preferentially absorb glucose and other resources to fuel their rapid multiplication, depriving normal body cells of the same, resulting in extreme overall fatigue. Also, the patient becomes tired as the body expends a lot of energy fighting cancer cells. Furthermore, comorbidities associated with specific tumours, such as malnutrition, infection, hepatic and renal problems, thyroid dysfunction, anxiety, and depression, contribute to cancer-related fatigue.

4. Appearance of a New Mole or Changes in the Existing One

Melanoma may be indicated by the appearance of a new mole or by changes in the size, shape, and appearance of an existing mole. Asymmetrical moles with uneven borders and abnormal colour may indicate this condition. While it can occur anywhere on the body, sun-exposed areas are more prone to it. Patients should get in touch with dermatologists for additional testing rather than ignoring their concerns.

5. Unexplained Weight Loss

One of the most common early signs of cancer include unexplained weight loss, which typically happen due to cancers of the oesophagus, lungs, stomach, and pancreas. One of the most prevalent early signs of cancer is unexplained weight loss, which typically occurs in malignancies of the stomach, pancreas, lungs, or oesophagus. According to research, by the time the disease is detected, around 60% and 80% of patients with upper gastrointestinal cancer and lung cancer, respectively, experience severe weight loss and low appetite. Malnutrition, altered metabolism, loss of appetite, and the body using energy to combat cancer cells are all contributing factors to weight loss associated with cancer.

Read Also: Lung Cancer Awareness Month: Signs, Symptoms, and Early Detection 

6. Abnormal Bleeding

Unexplained bleeding or bruises can potentially be an early indicator of cancer. Coagulopathy, local tumour invasion, and abnormal tumour vasculature might all be contributing factors to the bleeding. These individuals experience bleeding in a number of ways, such as frequent or severe nosebleeds or gum bleeds, blood in the stool or urine, or vomiting blood.

7. Unusual Lump or Swelling Anywhere

Small, healthy lymph nodes are typically invisible from the outer skin. A number of underlying medical conditions, including cancer, infection, and inflammation, can cause them to enlarge. Any body part that has persistent swelling or tumours may be a sign of serious underlying illnesses, such as cancer.

8. Abdominal or Pelvic Pain

Abdominal and pelvic cancers can cause pain in those areas. Pain may happen in both early and late phases of cancer. This discomfort is often long standing and might get worse with time. Gynaecological cancers such ovarian, uterine, and cervical cancers, as well as GI cancers like stomach, colorectal, pancreas, and liver cancers, are the causes of this symptom. Cancers can cause pain in the abdomen or pelvis due to a number of reasons, including pressure the tumour puts on adjoining organs and tissue nerves, inflammation, fluid accumulation that happens in advanced stages, or cancer spreading to other organs. 

9. Chronic Coughing

One must consult the doctor to identify the underlying cause of a chronic cough that persists after even after medicines.

10. Breast Changes

Breast changes can occur due to numerous reasons, including hormonal changes brought on by menstrual cycle, infection, inflammation, and the development of benign or malignant tumours. Breast cancer symptoms include an appearance of a lump, changes in the shape and texture of the breast, nipple alterations, and abnormal nipple discharge. Patients with inflammatory breast cancer may not have lumps, but they may experience skin rashes and redness.

Read Also: Breast Reconstruction Surgery: What to Expect Before, During, and After 

Conclusion

Timely spotting of early cancer symptoms and consulting an expert for a thorough examination are critical to the prompt treatment of cancer. 
If you are looking for accurate information on symptoms of a specific cancer type, then you can consult our expert oncologists at Eternal Hospital. Book your consultation now.

FAQs

Q1: Why is cancer awareness & early detection of cancer symptoms the need of the hour?
A: There are several advantages of early cancer detection such as more treatment options, fewer side effects, improved survival, enhanced quality of life, and low financial burden because as the disease progresses prolonged care and more expensive treatment options are required. 

Q2: When to See an Oncologist?
A: Patients, particularly those with a history of cancer or who are at higher risk of developing cancer, shouldn't overlook the early signs and symptoms of cancer, no matter how harmless they appear.

Q3: Do cancer symptoms appear and disappear?
A: Yes, cancer symptoms can appear and disappear; this is particularly common in the early stages. As the condition advances, the symptoms intensify with time.