CANCER

The American Cancer Society lists the following seven warning signs for cancer. Let your doctor know immediately if you experience any of these signs.
1)Change in bowel or bladder habits. Most people occasionally have a brief period of constipation, diarrhea, or a change in the frequency of bowel movements or urination. These do not necessarily indicate cancer but can be due to flu, changes in your diet, stress, etc. Tell your doctor about any changes in bowel or bladder habits that last two weeks.
2)A sore that does not heal.
3)Unusual bleeding or discharge. Coughing up blood, blood in vomit, blood in the urine, or significant amounts of blood in the stool should be called to your doctor's attention. Small amounts of blood in the stool can be due to hemorrhoids. Tell your doctor about even small amounts of blood in the stool if it does not go away in a few days.
4)Thickening or lump in breast or elsewhere. Most lumps, even in the breast, are not cancer. However, they should not be ignored.
5)Difficulty swallowing or indigestion that lasts more than a month and causes more than occasional minor discomfort.
6)Change in the appearance or size of a wart or mole.
Nagging cough or hoarseness. Cough and hoarseness are commonly associated with a cold. However, if either lasts more than a few weeks, tell your doctor.