Cancer is a nasty illness for many reasons, but one of the worst things about it is that it doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t matter how well you look after yourself. Eating healthily, exercising and avoiding vices like smoking, there’s no guarantee that you won’t be struck down by cancer at some point in your life. That’s why it’s important that you know the early warning signs of cancer.
Here are some of the symptoms of possible cancer that you shouldn’t ignore:
Pee Problems
If you have problems when you go to the bathroom, including leaking and dribbling, going more frequently of being unable to pee even when it feels like you need to, then you need to book an appointment with your doctor straight away.
These symptoms point to problems with the prostate. This could be something less problematic like an enlarged prostate, or it could be an indication of prostate cancer – you need to find out which.
Testicle Changes
If your testicles change so that one is bigger than the other or there is a lump present that wasn’t there before, you may be dealing with testicular cancer, and the earlier you deal with it, the better. You may need to have one or both or your testicles removed during surgery to deal with cancer. However, you will stand a good chance of coming out the other side with your life in tact!
Unpleasant Discharge
If you notice an unpleasant discharge under the foreskin, especially in conjunction with a red rash in the pubic area and even ulcers, you need to get checked out for penile cancer, which is thankfully rare, but very nasty, especially if it isn’t caught early. If you recognize it soon enough, it can be treated with circumcision surgery, radiotherapy, and a whole host of other medical interventions. Make sure you catch it early by staying alert!
Changes to the Breasts
Men don’t think that they can get breast cancer because they don’t think of themselves as having breasts, but around 1 percent of all breast cancers occur in males, so you should take it seriously if you notice a lump in that area or an unusual nipple discharge.
There’s Blood
If you have blood when you go to the bathroom, either for a number one or two, it could indicate that you have cancer of the colon, bladder or kidneys. I know it’s embarrassing to go to your doctor with such a problem, but doing so might just save your life.
Erectile Dysfunction
If you’re having problems performing in the bedroom, it might not just be that you’re getting older or you’ve gone off sex, it could be a symptom of something more serious like prostate cancer. So, it’s better to be safe and get it checked out.
Mouth Problems
If you’ve noticed unsightly white or red patches forming inside your mouth, you might just be suffering from ulcers or poor oral hygiene practices, but if you’re a smoker or tobacco chewer. You could actually be dealing with mouth cancer, and that requires some immediate attention.
Stay alert and do regular checks if you want to keep cancer at bay and give yourself the best chance of a swift recovery should the worst happen.
