Signs and Symptoms of Cancer

Updated May 8, 2019 | Infoplease Staff

Cancer and other illnesses often cause a number of problems you can watch for. The most common warning signs of cancer are:

• Change in bowel or bladder habits;
• A sore that does not heal;
• Unusual bleeding or discharge;
• Thickening or lump in the breast or elsewhere;
• Indigestion or difficulty swallowing;
• Obvious change in a wart or mole;
• Nagging cough or hoarseness.

These signs and symptoms can be caused by cancer or by a number of other problems. They are not a sure sign of cancer. However, it is important to see a doctor if any problem lasts as long as two weeks. Don't wait for symptoms to become painful; pain is not an early sign of cancer.