Cancer is one of the deadliest forms of illness, however, if the cancer is caught and removed early, then the chances of survival are very high. In addition to that, if there is no evidence of spread, then treatments are not always necessary. But the patient has to be checked often to see if there are signs of cancer returning.
However, there are some cancers that are difficult to detect early on. And the unfortunate thing is that by the time symptoms present itself, it has spread to the point that the chances of survival are low. There are seven types of cancer that are very difficult to detect in its early stages, and let’s go over those now.
Lung Cancer
No one who doesn’t smoke or hasn’t been exposed to second-hand smoke on a consistent basis would even imagine being at risk for developing lung cancer. However, constant inhalation of pollutants alone also increases chances as well as genetics. And because of the fact that lungs are made up of mostly air, small tumors are difficult to detect and don’t cause symptoms. But by the time it does, it spreads. Those who are hypersensitive to symptoms such as noticing that they cough more will look into it and sometimes a small tumor is detected. But more often than not, the spread happens and it is too late.
Colorectal Cancer
Another cancer that is hard to detect early on is colorectal cancer and that is because it takes three years for a cancerous polyp to show up in the colon. Therefore, if it is there, it is rare for symptoms to occur. But by the time cancer symptoms appear such as loss of appetite, blood in the stool, and unexplained weight loss, cancer has spread. That is why if a parent had colorectal cancer, then the offspring must get a colonoscopy from the age of 35 on every three years to remove polyps before they grow – if any are found.
Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer is the cancer is that is the most impossible to detect early on. And by the time symptoms manifest such as blood clots, unexplained weight loss, nausea, and pain, cancer spreads to the liver. And when that happens, it is too late for treatment.
Melanoma
You are told to look at your moles on your skin and to look for a certain characteristic such as it being extremely dark. But that is not always the case. Sometimes those moles are light and may just appear as a harmless freckle. And sometimes melanoma signs don’t have any color. But once it enlarges, it is not always easy to spot until it is too late. Men are more likely to die from melanoma than women as women have a stronger immune response to it.
Liver Cancer
Liver cancer is one of the most difficult cancers to detect if it happens early on. Firstly, by the time a tumor develops in the liver, you are asymptomatic and because the liver is large, tumors cannot be detected in the area. When you develop cancer symptoms such as unexplained weight loss, nausea, pain, and jaundice, it is too late. And oftentimes cancer is a death sentence when it spreads to the liver from other parts of the body. It is too difficult to detect if it starts in the liver.
Cervical Cancer
Women that have cancerous cells in the cervix won’t know until it spreads, then the typical cancer symptoms start and it is too late. This is why women need to get pap smears done every three years to detect any cancerous cells in the cervix.
Breast Cancer
Women are told to feel their breasts when they take a shower to see if there are any rock-hard lumps. However, breast cancer is not always characterized by rock-hard lumps in the breasts. Sometimes the tumor is located in the area of the breast that is not easy to detect or it starts out as a dimple which is easy to miss. If there is a history of breast cancer, women should be getting detection very early on through mammograms.
The best thing you can do is to pay attention to your intuition if you are not having symptoms. If you deep down feel something is not right even if you ‘feel’ okay physically, then go to the doctor and get an examination. Your intuition can save your life.
