Signs of Cancer - Do Not Ignore

An article from Web MD that was in my hold file for a few months. This article was originally titled, 15 Cancer Symptoms to Know.

Changes in Your Skin
A new spot on your skin or one that changes size, shape, or color could be a sign of skin cancer. Another is a spot that doesn't look the same as all the others on your body. If you have any unusual marks, have your doctor check your skin. She will do an exam and may remove a small piece (called a biopsy) to take a closer look for cancer cells.

MyAchingKnees Comment: Not all skin cancer is the same, but according to my Dermatologist it all starts at the location where you received s severe sun burn. I have had numerous spots of Basil cell cancer cut out of my torso. I was never a sun bather, just received severe burns from working in the Sun without a shirt a few times as a youngster. Just get all of your suspicious spots checked.

Nagging Cough
If you don't smoke, there's very little chance a nagging cough is a sign of cancer. Usually, it's caused by postnasal drip, asthma, acid reflux, or an infection. But if yours doesn't go away or you cough up blood -- especially if you are a smoker -- see your doctor. She may test mucus from your lungs or do a chest X-ray to check for lung cancer.

Breast Changes
Most breast changes are not cancer. It's still important, though, to tell your doctor about them and have her check them out. Let her know about any lumps, nipple changes or discharge, redness or thickening, or pain in your breasts. She'll do an exam and may suggest a mammogram, MRI, or maybe a biopsy.

Bloating
You may have a full, bloated feeling because of your diet or even stress. But if it doesn't get better or you also have fatigue, weight loss, or back pain, have it checked out. Constant bloating in women may be a sign of ovarian cancer. Your doctor can do a pelvic exam to look for the cause.

MyAchingKnees Comment: A dear friend of mine had bloating for over a year, He thought he was gaining weight and couldn't understand why his diet and additional exercise did not make the bloating go away. It turned out if was pancreatic cancer. He is no longer here.

Problems When You Pee
Many men have urinary issues as they get older, like the need to go more often, leaks, or a weak stream. Usually, these are signs of an enlarged prostate, but they could also mean prostate cancer. See your doctor for an exam and maybe a special blood test called a PSA test.

Swollen Lymph Nodes
You have these small, bean-shaped glands in your neck, armpits, and other places in your body. When they're swollen, it often means you're fighting an infection like a cold or strep throat. Some cancers like lymphoma and leukemia can also cause this kind of swelling. Talk to your doctor to pinpoint the cause.

MyAchingKnees Comment: A female relative of mine had a swollen lymph node. Within 60 days of detecting it, it was biopsied and subsequent surgery ended up removing over 40 nodes in her neck. Cancer travels fast once it hits the lymphatic system - don't wait on this symptom.

Blood When You Use the Bathroom
If you see blood in the toilet after you go, it's a good idea to talk to your doctor. Bloody stool is likely to come from swollen, inflamed veins called hemorrhoids, but there's a chance it could be colon cancer. Blood in your pee could be a problem like a urinary tract infection, but it may be kidney or bladder cancer.

MyAchingKnees Comment: I know an elderly lady who had blood in her stools for several months before she was forced to go to the hospital after severe pain made life unbearable. Guess what? Yep, a cancerous tumor in her lower intestines - rare for women, but nonetheless it was there - and inoperable. She is now in hospice care.

Testicle Changes
If you notice a lump or swelling in your testicles, you need to see your doctor right away. A painless lump is the most common sign of testicular cancer. Sometimes though, a man may just have a heavy feeling in his lower belly or scrotum or think his testicles feel larger. Your doctor will do a physical exam of the area and may use an ultrasound scan to see if there is a tumor or another problem.

Trouble Swallowing
The common cold, acid reflux, or even some medicine can make it hard to swallow once in a while. If it doesn’t get better with time or with antacids, see your doctor. Trouble swallowing can also be a sign of cancer in your throat or the pipe between your mouth and stomach, called the esophagus. Your doctor will do an exam and some tests like a barium X-ray, in which you swallow a chalky fluid to show your throat more clearly on the image.

Unusual Vaginal Bleeding
Bleeding that's not part of your usual period can have many causes, like fibroids or even some types of birth control. But tell your doctor if you're bleeding between periods, after sex, or have bloody discharge. She'll want to rule out cancer of the uterus, cervix, or vagina. Be sure to let her know if you are bleeding after menopause. That's not normal and should be checked out right away.

Mouth Issues
From bad breath to canker sores, most changes in your mouth aren't serious. But if you have white or red patches or sores in your mouth that don't heal after a couple of weeks -- especially if you smoke -- see your doctor. It may be a sign of oral cancer. Other things to look for: a lump in your cheek, trouble moving your jaw, or mouth pain.

Weight Loss
Of course you can slim down when you change the way you eat or exercise. It can also happen if you have other issues, like stress or a thyroid problem. But it’s not normal to lose 10 pounds or more without trying. There's a chance it could be a first sign of cancer of the pancreas, stomach, esophagus, or lung.

Fever
A fever isn't usually a bad thing. Sometimes it's just a sign that your body is fighting an infection. It can also be a side effect of some medicines. But one that won't go away and doesn't have an obvious cause could be a sign of a blood cancer like leukemia or lymphoma.

Heartburn or Indigestion
Almost everyone has this burning feeling sometimes, often because of their diet or stress. If lifestyle changes don't work and your indigestion doesn't stop, your doctor may want to do some tests to look for a cause. It could be a sign of stomach cancer.

MyAchingKnees Comment: Not just stomach cancer but esophageal or throat cancer. If you have acid reflux, the stomach acid being brought up destroy the lining of your throat and those cells can become malignant. Not fun. I have three friends who have had throat cancer. One if no longer alive- and dying at 55 years old shouldn't happen in today's world of diagnostic tools and treatments.

Fatigue
A lot of things can make you very tired, and most of them aren’t serious. But fatigue is one early sign of some cancers, like leukemia. Some colon and stomach cancers can cause blood loss that you can't see, which can make you feel very tired. If you're wiped out all the time and rest doesn't help, talk to your doctor.

MyAchingKnees Comment: My cancer counter -measures certainly include keeping tabs on the early detectable symptoms but also minimizing the processed, high glycemic foods that cancer feeds on and maximizing good, whole non-GMPO foods when I can. It includes taking the best supplements so my body gets all the nutrients in the right doses to work in a synergistic manner so my immune system functions the way it is intended. I also live a physical lifestyle - haven't laid on the couch and ate potato chips for two decades now. And lastly I avoid toxins as I can - and these include but are not limited to household cleaners, bug sprays, weed killers, and spray paints. Use protective items when you use these common items.

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Foods that Cardiologists Refuse To Eat

MyAchingKnees Comment: This article supports what I call the Chair of Health. Any chair has four legs and the four legs that support your health are: Minimizing Bad and high glycemic foods while maximizing good, low glycemic foods; Taking quality nutritional supplements and optimizers as you just cannot receive the nutrients your body needs through foods; Live a physical life - do something!; and, avoid toxins as much as possible- and the biggest toxin is tobacco but can also include household cleaners, pollution, pesticides, etc. Anyway, good guidelines in the article below:

 

You can eat healthy foods only, but if you smoke a lot and are not physically active, you’re not less likely to have congestive heart failure, Dr. Clyde W. Yancy, Chief of Cardiology in the Department of Medicine at Northwestern University, says. Better diet should be a part of a comprehensive healthy routine that includes more exercise and, most importantly, portion control, Dr. Yancy says. “It’s not just about what we eat but also about the way we consume calories,” he adds. “Moderation has successfully proven to be key to success.”

Any processed or frozen foods. “These typically contain chemicals, additives and preservatives that are not healthy,” Dr. Kevin Campbell, world-renowned cardiologist, says. “Fresh foods provide much better nutrients and have fewer calories. “These processed foods often contain flavor enhancers that are artificially produced. In addition, these foods always contain a very high sodium load,” he adds.

MyAchingKnees Comment: There are some frozen foods that are not processed - get good at reading the labels.   
 

Sodas or soft drinks. “These are empty calorie foods,” Dr. Campbell says. “They have no nutritional value and are very calorie dense. They contribute to obesity,” he adds. Diet soda is in some ways even worse than the regular version. They are slowly killing you in several ways.

 

MyAchingKnees Comment: If you don't know abut the dangers of Aspartame, a common sweetener in soft drinks, then you have probably been living on a remote island. Say hello to Wilson for us.    

 

Chips. “These are foods that are loaded with calories, often fried and have little or no nutritional value,” Dr. Campbell says. Potato chips also fall in the category of foods that are aging you because they are often made with olestra, a fat substitute that adds no fat, calories or cholesterol. But it sticks to vitamins A, E, D and K and carotenoids, which are antioxidant nutrients, and flushes them out of the body, according to a study.

Fried foods. “There is no reason to ever eat anything fried,” Dr. Yancy says. “It has absolutely no cardiovascular benefits.” The second you start to fry foods, the oil becomes carcinogenic. When oil and fat are exposed to very high temperatures, free radicals are formed. The trans fats in these foods cause inflammation in the body. They raise your bad cholesterol and clog and stiffen the arteries. Bad fats disrupt the thyroid's ability to produce enough hormone.

Too much alcohol. “Small amount of wine – a glass per night at most – can be beneficial,” Dr. Yancy says. “But not more.” Then you’re consuming too many empty calories and sugar. Alcohol can trigger symptoms of atrial fibrillation (arrythmia), which increases the risk of stroke by five times. Excess consumption of alcohol stops the liver from making the materials that help the blood to clot.

Bacon. There is too much fat in bacon, Dr. David Fischman, co-director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Thomas Jefferson University, says. Nitrates help these foods keep their color for longer but they are not doing your body any favors. They can convert to nitrite, causing the formation of nitrosamines, which are carcinogenic chemicals, according to the CDC.

Cold cuts. These processed meats are very high in sodium and fat, too, Dr. Fischman says. “Turkey is less fatty but it has a lot of salt.” Consuming too much of it can lead to hypertension and damaged blood vessels, among other serious health problems. And this includes Hot dogs. “Hot dogs should not be staple food for anyone,” Dr. Fischman says. They are too processed and have too much salt.

Cheese. Too much cheese it not good for you because it is very high in calories, Dr. Fischman says. “It’s OK to have pizza once in a while but not every night for dinner.” Cheese has about 100 calories per ounce, on average, and a lot of fat – 6 to 9 grams per ounce, most of which is saturated, according to the University of California at Berkley.

Canned foods. “Anything that is in a can is very high in sodium because this is what they use to preserve the food,” Dr. Fischman says. “It’s always better to have fresh food. “I don’t care if you eat organic or non-organic fruits and vegetables,” he adds, “just eat more of them.”

Sweets. Refined sugar is toxic to the body, especially if consumed in large amounts. It causes insulin spikes, which lead to weight gain,” Dr. Fischman says. Your bad cholesterol levels also go up. The body does not like to have a lot of sugar but the muscles, which use it for energy, don’t have enough room for it. The extra gets stored in your fat cells, which is like the body’s dumping ground.

MyAchingKnees Comment: Amen to that! Sugar feeds cancers. That's why you drink a sugar drink 30 minutes before a PET/CT scan as the sugar goes to the cancer spots which light up on the scan.

Baked goods. “They are high in calories, fat and sugar,” Dr. Fischman says. Make them at home because then you’re more likely to use less sugar and butter instead of hydrogenated oil, he adds. This is a kind of trans fat that is really bad for you. Companies don’t have to list trans fats on the ingredient label unless there are more than 0.5g.

MyAchingKnees Comment: "Baked goods above, obviously pertains to cakes, pies, cookies, donuts, etc. Not your healthy casseroles and dishes like this.

Microwave dinners. These fit into the “anything in a box” category, Dr. Fischman says. In general, “they are preserved with too much sodium and are very high in calorie content.”

Ice cream. “Every time I see an overweight patient, my first question is ‘If I open your fridge, will I find ice cream?’ The answer usually is ‘yes,’” Dr. Fischman says. “Get rid of it.” It is very high in calories and fat, and it contributes to high cholesterol levels.

Energy drinks. “Absolutely not,” Dr. Fischman says. “Especially not mixed with alcohol.” Both are high in wasted calories and sugar. Energy drinks have too much caffeine, one of the most dangerous legal drugs, which leads to high blood pressure and racing heart, he adds.

MyAchingKnees Comment: Energy drinks, aka Death in a Can, helping to destroy our youth since the last decade began.

Originally from the Active Times

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