Due to technological advances over the past 50 years, huge progress has been made when it comes to the fight against cancer. However, there is still a long way to go. For instance, Aaccording to a report by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), next year we will see almost 2 million new cancer diagnoses. Although a cancer diagnosis is not necessarily a death sentence, cancer remains one of the leading causes of premature death world-wide.
The most common cancers in the U.S. are: bladder cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, leukemia, lung cancer, melanoma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer and thyroid cancer.
When caught early, on average, the survival rate for an individual diagnosed with cancer is approximately 80%. Unfortunately, if the cancer is not found until it has reached a more advanced stage, the survival drops dramatically to 30%. Often, cancer develops unnoticed. However, there are certain things to look that you should mention to your doctor if you experience. It is better to be safe than sorry, as outcomes are much better when cancer is caught early on, before it worsens and/or spreads to other parts of the body. For example, cancer that develops in the liver can spread to other organs like the lungs.
Weight Changes
For many, a drastic weight loss of 10 pounds or more is the first sign of cancer. This occurs because the toxic cancer cells attack your body’s healthy cells. Although many other health issues are associated with weight loss, it is important to seek medical attention if you happen to drop a lot of weight without change in diet and/or exercise routine, as it could be a sign of cancer. Sudden weight loss is most common with the following cancer types: esophagus, lung, pancreas and stomach.
