The 21st century has seen a lot of changes in the world, from man going into the space to fossil discoveries dating back to B.C! Science has pushed the limits of everything, yet there are some puzzles which even science has not been able to decipher. Cancer still remains amongst one of the modern world’s unsolved mysteries! World over, 4th of February is observed as World Cancer Day to serve as a stark reminder of one of human kind’s silent killer, Cancer.
While science is yet to find a complete cure for Cancer, we ourselves are to blame too! Awareness regarding Cancer is very low in India, a nation which has some of the highest incidents of Oral and lower pharynx cancers, due to excessive tobacco consumption. Lack of detection is one of the major causes for high cancer mortality rates in India. Having knowledge about the symptoms becomes necessary as it helps in early detection and thereby reduces the chances of death.
Following is the list of some of the most commonly occurring cancers in India and their symptoms:
Prostate Cancer:
A prostate cancer usually occurs in men above 60, when there is an abnormal and uncontrolled growth of cancerous cells in the prostate, a gland situated below the bladder. These cancerous cells then spread to other parts of the body mainly the bones and the lymph nodes. In most of the cases, Prostate cancer goes unnoticed as it is characterized by a very slow growth and the early stages of the cancer are relatively symptom free. Owing to the age group of men affected by it and the lack of symptoms that in its early stage, most men in India suffering from the cancer, remain unaware of it till it reaches the advanced stage!
Symptoms:
- Weak or uninterrupted flow of urine
- A need to urinate frequently, especially during the night
- Experiencing difficulty when starting the urine stream
- Experiencing a painful or a burning sensation when urinating
- Blood in the Urine
- Experiencing a deep pain in the lower belly, upper thighs and the hips
Breast Cancer:
Breast Cancer is one of the leading cancers occurring in Indian women, with an estimated 50,000-70,000 women dying from it every year! Life style and dietary changes are the leading factors causing breast cancer in India. It originates in a female’s breast tissues usually in the ducts and the lobules of either one or both breasts. Mammography or clinical breast exam are used to diagnose breast cancer, however one can even self diagnose it by following a correct method. 90% of breast cancers are detected and cured as they are diagnosed in the early stages.
Symptoms:
- A painless lump in the breast or thickening of the breast or the underarm
- Dimpling of the breast skin or change in the size and shape of the breast
- Nipples turning inwards, the skin around it will look scaly
- Blood or clear fluid coming out from the nipple
Oral/ Mouth Cancer:
Oral or Mouth Cancer accounts for up to 40% of all Cancer cases in India! It occurs due to the excessive consumption of tobacco, alcohol, smoking and chewing of the betel leaf (Paan) which contains large quantities of mineral lime (Chuna) and the Areca nut. Oral cancer, a subtype of head and neck cancers, occurs when there is an uncontrolled and abnormal growth of any cancerous tissue in the oral cavity. This cancer begins in the squamous cells which cover the tongue, lips and the floor of the mouth with the cancerous cells spread to the lymphatic system. Men are affected as twice as much as women by Oral Cancer!
Symptoms:
- Appearance of skin lesions, swellings, bumps or eroded skin on the lips, tongue or any other area of the mouth
- Velvety white, red or white-red patches in the mouth are early indicators of Oral Cancer
- Sores on your lip or the mouth that don’t heal within 2 weeks
- An unexplained bleeding in the mouth
- Experiencing difficulty or pain when trying to move your jaw, swallowing and chewing.
- Unexplained numbness or loss of sensation in any part of the mouth
- Feeling like something is caught in the back of the throat
- Ear Ache
Lung Cancer:
Lung cancer accounts for a whooping 33,000 new cases annually in India alone! In India, the ratio of lung cancer affecting men and women is 10:1; a majority of the cases developed the cancer due to smoking. Lung Cancer accounts for a total of 1.3 million deaths worldwide annually, it occurs when there is an uncontrolled growth of cancerous cells in the tissues of the lung, which later spreads to adjacent tissues and affects areas beyond the lung! There are primarily two types of lung cancers namely the small cell lung cancers (SCLC) which react well to radio and chemotherapy, and Non-small cell lung cancers (NCLC) which can be treated by surgery.
Symptoms:
- Chronic cough, which doesn’t go away
- Blood in the cough
- Dull and persistent aching in the chest
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing or difficulty in drawing breath
- Loss of appetite and unexplained fatigue
- Weight loss
- Difficulty swallowing
Cervical Cancer:
Cervical cancer is the second leading cancer affecting Indian women, resulting in the death of 8 women per hour! The awareness levels regarding Cervical Cancer are abysmally low, with many having no knowledge about it! With 1, 32,000 new cases and 74,000 deaths annually, cervical cancer is accounting to almost 20% of all Cancers affecting Indian women. The Cancer is caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), it occurs when one has sexual contact with a partner carrying the HPV. The cancer causing virus lays dormant in the female’s body for many years after she’s been infected, eventually causing Cervical Cancer in the female.
Cervical cancer occurs in the cervix, (located at the lower part of the uterus which opens in the vagina) when abnormal cells have an uncontrolled growth. It is curable when found in the early stages. Pap tests are used to identify the cancer; regular Pap tests help in identifying the cancer in its early stages.
Symptoms:
- Unexplained bleeding from the Vagina
- Experiencing Pain or discomfort during Sex
- Blood in the vaginal discharge
- Bleeding whenever anything comes into contact with the cervix
Gallbladder Cancer (GBC):
Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is a very uncommon type of cancer with marked ethnic, gender and genetic variations worldwide! It has high incidences in the North Indian population with most patients coming from a rural background and having low body mass index (BMI). It is found to affect women twice as much as it affects men and shows no early signs thereby making early detection quite difficult. GBC occurs with cancer cells forming in the tissues of the gallbladder, which is a pear shaped organ lying just below the liver. GBC can also be caused due to a condition known as ‘Porcelain bladder’, which occurs when the bladder gets calcified due to accumulation of gall stones. GBC occupies the fourth spot when it comes to Cancer related mortality rates in India.
Symptoms:
- Jaundice
- Fever
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Lumps in the abdomen
- Bloating
As Gilda Radner says in her book “Cancer changes your life, and oftentimes for the better!” One must often remember that while Cancer is a dreaded disease, it is not the end of everything. Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and hormone therapy are available means of treatment for Cancer world over.
And as the world celebrates World Cancer Day, let’s pledge an alliance to C.A.U.T.I.O.N in our fight against Cancer!
- C- Change in bowel or bladder habits could be a sign of colorectal cancer
- A- A sore that does not heal on the skin or in the mouth could be a malignancy and s
hould be checked by a doctor
- U- Unusual bleeding or discharge from the rectum, bladder or vagina could mean colorectal, prostate, bladder or cervical cancer
- T- Thickening of breast tissue or a new lump in the breast is a warning sign of breast cancer. A lump in the testes could mean testicular cancer
- I- Indigestion or trouble swallowing could be cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus or stomach
- O- Obvious changes to moles or warts could mean skin cancer
- N- Nagging cough or hoarseness that persists for four to six weeks could be a sign of lung or throat cancer.
