Unexplained weight loss
If you lose weight for no reason, see your doctor. Losing 10 pounds or more is nothing to worry about. However, in rare cases, it can be the first sign of cancer.
Fatigue
It’s not as tired as you might feel after a long day of work or play. Extreme fatigue that does not go away with rest can be an early sign of cancer.
Because cancer uses your body’s nutrients to grow and move forward, those nutrients no longer replenish your body. This “nutrient theft” can make you very tired.
There are many causes of fatigue, many of which are unrelated to cancer. If your symptoms are severe enough to affect your quality of life, see your doctor.
Fever
A fever can be a common symptom of the flu and usually goes away on its own.
Certain characteristics of recurrent fevers may predict a possible malignancy. You should pay special attention in the following cases:
Fever usually occurs at night.
You have no other symptoms of infection.
You experience night sweats.
Pain
Pain is another symptom that can be caused by a number of health problems, most of which are not cancer. However, persistent pain may indicate an underlying disease.
Cancer can cause pain in a variety of ways, including:
A mass or tumor that is pressing on other parts of your body
Chemicals released by cancer
Metastasis, or the spread of cancer from the site of origin
If your pain doesn’t go away and you don’t know where it’s coming from, your doctor can help you with next steps.