Women tend to be more vigilant than men about getting recommended health checkups and cancer screenings, according to studies and experts.
They're generally more willing, as well, to get potentially worrisome symptoms checked out.With that healthy balance between denial and hypochondria in mind, the symptoms that may not immediately make a woman worry about cancer, but that should be checked out. Below 15 possible cancer symptoms women often ignore.
No. 1: Unexplained Weight Loss
Many women would be delighted to lose weight without trying. But unexplained weight loss -- say 10 pounds in a month without an increase in exercise or a decrease in food intake -- should be checked out, Mishori says.
"Unexplained weight loss is cancer unless proven not," she says. It could, of course, turn out to be another condition, such as an overactive thyroid.
Expect your doctor to run tests to check the thyroid and perhaps order a CT scan of different organs. The doctor needs to "rule out the possibilities, one by one," Mishori says.
No. 2: Bloating
Bloating is so common that many women just live with it. But it could point to ovarian cancer. Other symptoms of ovarian cancer include abdominal pain or pelvic pain, feeling full quickly -- even when you haven't eaten much -- and urinary problems, such as having an urgent need to go to the bathroom.
If the bloating occurs almost every day and persists for more than a few weeks, you should consult your physician. Expect your doctor to take a careful history and order a CT scan and blood tests, among others.
No. 3: Breast Changes
Most women know their breasts well, even if they don't do regular self-exams, and know to be on the lookout for lumps. But that's not the only breast symptom that could point to cancer. Redness and thickening of the skin on the breast, which could indicate a very rare but aggressive form of breast cancer, inflammatory breast cancer, also needs to be examined, Linden says. "If you have a rash that persists over weeks, you have to get it evaluated," she says.
Likewise, if the look of a nipple changes, or if you notice discharge (and aren’t breastfeeding), see your doctor. "If it's outgoing normally and turns in," she says, that's not a good sign. "If your nipples are inverted chronically, no big deal." It's the change in appearance that could be a worrisome symptom.
If you have breast changes, expect your doctor to take a careful history, examine the breast, and order tests such as a mammogram, ultrasound, MRI, and perhaps a biopsy.
No. 4: Between-Period Bleeding or Other Unusual Bleeding
''Premenopausal women tend to ignore between-period bleeding," Daly says. They also tend to ignore bleeding from the GI tract, mistakenly thinking it is from their period. But between-period bleeding, especially if you are typically regular, bears checking out, she says. So does bleeding after menopause, as it could be a symptom of endometrial cancer. GI bleeding could be a symptom of colorectal cancer.
Think about what's normal for you, says Debbie Saslow, PhD, director of breast and gynecologic cancer at the American Cancer Society in Atlanta. "If a woman never spots [between periods] and she spots, it's abnormal for her. For someone else, it might not be."
"Endometrial cancer is a common gynecologic cancer," Saslow says. "At least three-quarters who get it have some abnormal bleeding as an early sign."
Your doctor will take a careful history and, depending on the timing of the bleeding and other symptoms, probably order an ultrasound or biopsy.
No. 5: Skin Changes
Most of us know to look for any changes in moles -- a well-known sign of skin cancer. But we should also watch for changes in skin pigmentation, Daly says.
If you suddenly develop bleeding on your skin or excessive scaling, that should be checked, too, she says. It's difficult to say how long is too long to observe skin changes before you go to the doctor, but most experts say not longer than several weeks.
No. 6: Difficulty Swallowing
If you have difficulty swallowing, you may have already changed your diet so chewing isn't so difficult, perhaps turning to soups or liquid foods such as protein shakes.
But that difficulty could be a sign of a GI cancer, such as in the esophagus, says Leonard Lichtenfeld, MD, deputy chief medical officer at the American Cancer Society.
Expect your doctor to take a careful history and order tests such as a chest X-ray or exams of the GI tract.
No. 7: Blood in the Wrong Place
If you notice blood in your urine or your stool, don’t assume it's from a hemorrhoid, says Mishori. "It could be colon cancer."
Expect your doctor to ask questions and perhaps order testing such as a colonoscopy, an exam of the colon to look for cancer.
Seeing blood in the toilet bowl may actually be from the vagina if a woman is menstruating, Mishori says. But if not, it should be checked to rule out bladder or kidney cancer, she says.
Coughing up blood should be evaluated, too. One occasion of blood in the wrong place may not point to anything, Mishori says, but if it happens more than once, go see your doctor.
No. 8: Gnawing Abdominal Pain and Depression
Any woman who's got a pain in the abdomen and is feeling depressed needs a checkup, says Lichtenfeld. Some researchers have found a link between depression and pancreatic cancer, but it's a poorly understood connection.
No. 9: Indigestion
Women who have been pregnant may remember the indigestion that occurred as they gained weight. But indigestion for no apparent reason may be a red flag.
It could be an early clue to cancer of the esophagus, stomach, or throat.
Expect your doctor to take a careful history and ask questions about the indigestion before deciding which tests to order, if any.
No. 10: Mouth Changes
Smokers should be especially alert for any white patches inside the mouth or white spots on the tongue, according to the American Cancer Society. Both can point to a precancerous condition called leukoplakia that can progress to oral cancer.
Ask your dentist or doctor to take a look and decide what should be done next.
No. 11: Pain
As people age they seem to complain more of various aches and pains, but pain, as vague as it may be, can also be an early symptom of some cancers, although most pain complaints are not from cancer.
Pain that persists and is unexplained needs to be checked out. Expect your physician to take a careful history, and based on that information decide what further testing, if any, is needed.
No. 12: Changes in the Lymph Nodes
If you notice a lump or swelling in the lymph nodes under your armpit or in your neck -- or anywhere else -- it could be worrisome, Linden says.
"If you have a lymph node that gets progressively larger, and it's [been] longer than a month, see a doctor," she says. Your doctor will examine you and figure out any associated issues (such as infection) that could explain the lymph node enlargement.
If there are none, your doctor will typically order a biopsy.
No. 13: Fever
If you have a fever that isn't explained by influenza or other infection, it could point to cancer. Fevers more often occur after cancer has spread from its original site, but it can also point to early blood cancers such as leukemia or lymphoma, according to the American Cancer Society.
Other cancer symptoms can include jaundice, or a change in the color of your stool.
Expect your doctor to conduct a careful physical exam and take a medical history, and then order tests such as a chest X-ray, CT scan, MRI, or other tests, depending on the findings.
No. 14: Fatigue
Fatigue is another vague symptom that could point to cancer -- as well as a host of other problems. It can set in after the cancer has grown, but it may also occur early in certain cancers, such as leukemia or with some colon or stomach cancers, according to the American Cancer Society.
No. 15: Persistent Cough
Coughs are expected with colds, the flu, allergies, and sometimes are a side effect of medications. But a very prolonged cough -- defined as lasting more than three or four weeks -- should not be ignored, Mishori says.
You would expect your doctor to take a careful history, examine your throat, check out your lung functioning and perhaps order X-rays, especially if you are a smoker.
Friday, September 4, 2009
How is an earache from a cold or ear infection treated?
An ear infection is usually treatable, and permanent damage to the ear or to the hearing is much less common today with proper treatment. Treatment may include medications for pain and fever, antibiotics for bacterial ear infections, and/or observation of symptoms.
* Pain relief for an earache
Acetaminophen or ibuprofencan help relieve an earache with a cold or a fever over 102 degrees Fahrenheit. These medications usually control the ear pain within 1 to 2 hours. (Earaches tend to hurt more at bedtime.)
* Antibiotics for an ear infection
Prescribed antibiotics will kill the bacteria causing the ear infection. They are not needed to treat an earache due to a cold or a virus. Antibiotics may cause nausea, diarrhea, rashes, or yeast infections and may interact with other medications.
* Myringotomy (ear tubes) to relieve ear fluid
If fluid remains in the ear for more than 3 months or if your child has repeated ear infections, your doctor may insert small metal or plastic tubes through the eardrum to help keep the ear free of fluid and infection. This outpatient procedure is usually performed on children and is done under general anesthesia. The tubes usually remain in from 8 to 18 months and normally fall out on their own. In some instances, the doctor may choose to leave the tubes in longer.
* Pain relief for an earache
Acetaminophen or ibuprofencan help relieve an earache with a cold or a fever over 102 degrees Fahrenheit. These medications usually control the ear pain within 1 to 2 hours. (Earaches tend to hurt more at bedtime.)
* Antibiotics for an ear infection
Prescribed antibiotics will kill the bacteria causing the ear infection. They are not needed to treat an earache due to a cold or a virus. Antibiotics may cause nausea, diarrhea, rashes, or yeast infections and may interact with other medications.
* Myringotomy (ear tubes) to relieve ear fluid
If fluid remains in the ear for more than 3 months or if your child has repeated ear infections, your doctor may insert small metal or plastic tubes through the eardrum to help keep the ear free of fluid and infection. This outpatient procedure is usually performed on children and is done under general anesthesia. The tubes usually remain in from 8 to 18 months and normally fall out on their own. In some instances, the doctor may choose to leave the tubes in longer.
How is an ear infection diagnosed?
When your doctor suspects an ear infection, he or she will examine the ear using an instrument called an otoscope. A healthy eardrum is pinkish gray in color and transparent. If an ear infection is present, the eardrum may be inflamed, swollen, or red. The doctor may also check the fluid in the middle ear using a pneumatic otoscope. This instrument blows a small amount of air at the eardrum, causing the eardrum to move back and forth. The eardrum will not move as readily if fluid is present inside the ear.
Another useful diagnostic tool for ear infections is tympanometry. This is a test that uses sound and air pressure to check for fluid in the middle ear (it cannot test hearing).
Another useful diagnostic tool for ear infections is tympanometry. This is a test that uses sound and air pressure to check for fluid in the middle ear (it cannot test hearing).
Earache: Cold or Ear Infection?
Got an earache? How do you know if your earache is from a cold or an ear infection called otitis media? Here's how to tell the difference.
How do earache symptoms from a cold compare with symptoms from an ear infection?
An earache from a cold can be a sharp, dull, or burning pain that can range from mild to very painful. Even if the trapped fluid in the ear is not infected, the fluid puts pressure on the eardrum, causing it to bulge and throb.
With an earache from a cold, you or your child may have difficulty sleeping, run a fever, and have green or yellow mucus in the nose. Because colds are self-limiting, an earache with a cold usually goes away on its own. Still, if you have an earache, an ear infection may be likely, which means you might need to see your doctor for a diagnosis and proper treatment.
While earaches can occur first with a cold virus, sometimes a secondary ear infection may occur. These ear infections are usually sudden in onset and extremely painful in the beginning. That's because the sensory nerve endings in the eardrum respond to increased pressure with pain. After the eardrum stretches a little, the earache pain may ease up.
Other symptoms of an earache from an ear infection may include the following:
* Loss of appetite. This may be apparent in young children, especially during bottle feedings. Pressure changes in the middle ear as the child swallows, causing more pain.
* Irritability.
* Poor sleep. Pain may be more persistent when lying down as fluid is shifting.
* Fever. Ear infections can cause temperatures up to 104 degrees F.
* Vertigo . You may have a sense of spinning.
* Drainage from the ear. Yellow, brown, or white fluid that isn't earwax may seep from the ear, indicating the eardrum has ruptured.
* Difficulty hearing. Fluid build-up in the middle ear prevents the eardrum from functioning properly. The sound is then unable to be transmitted to the bones of the middle ear and from there to the brain.
* Otitis media with effusion. Symptoms of acute otitis media will disappear, but the fluid, which is called an effusion, may remain. Trapped fluid causes temporary and mild hearing loss.
How do earache symptoms from a cold compare with symptoms from an ear infection?
An earache from a cold can be a sharp, dull, or burning pain that can range from mild to very painful. Even if the trapped fluid in the ear is not infected, the fluid puts pressure on the eardrum, causing it to bulge and throb.
With an earache from a cold, you or your child may have difficulty sleeping, run a fever, and have green or yellow mucus in the nose. Because colds are self-limiting, an earache with a cold usually goes away on its own. Still, if you have an earache, an ear infection may be likely, which means you might need to see your doctor for a diagnosis and proper treatment.
While earaches can occur first with a cold virus, sometimes a secondary ear infection may occur. These ear infections are usually sudden in onset and extremely painful in the beginning. That's because the sensory nerve endings in the eardrum respond to increased pressure with pain. After the eardrum stretches a little, the earache pain may ease up.
Other symptoms of an earache from an ear infection may include the following:
* Loss of appetite. This may be apparent in young children, especially during bottle feedings. Pressure changes in the middle ear as the child swallows, causing more pain.
* Irritability.
* Poor sleep. Pain may be more persistent when lying down as fluid is shifting.
* Fever. Ear infections can cause temperatures up to 104 degrees F.
* Vertigo . You may have a sense of spinning.
* Drainage from the ear. Yellow, brown, or white fluid that isn't earwax may seep from the ear, indicating the eardrum has ruptured.
* Difficulty hearing. Fluid build-up in the middle ear prevents the eardrum from functioning properly. The sound is then unable to be transmitted to the bones of the middle ear and from there to the brain.
* Otitis media with effusion. Symptoms of acute otitis media will disappear, but the fluid, which is called an effusion, may remain. Trapped fluid causes temporary and mild hearing loss.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Stopping Swine Flu Up to You
Who's on the front line of this fall's flu fight? You are.
The first part to stop Swine Flu:
* Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly. Use soap and warm water when available; use hand sanitizer between hand washings.
* Avoid close contact with sick people. Close contact means getting within 6 feet of a sick person. If you must care for someone who is ill, minimize close contact.
* It's not known whether face masks protect against infection. If you use one, don't slack off on hand washing or avoiding close contact with sick people. Use the face mask properly and throw it away after use.
* Get your seasonal flu vaccine as soon as possible. It's safe, and it protects against the three seasonal flu bugs expected to circulate this fall and winter -- even though it won't protect against H1N1 swine flu.
The second part of the plan is to keep from spreading the swine flu virus:
* Stay home if you are sick.
* Observe flu etiquette. Don't cough or sneeze into your hands. Cough/sneeze into a tissue -- or, failing that, your elbow.
* If you can do so comfortably, wear a face mask if you come into contact with others.
* If you are an employer, do not penalize workers for staying home if sick or for caring for sick children.
* Make plans -- now -- for what you'd do if you or your children get sick this fall.
The first part to stop Swine Flu:
* Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly. Use soap and warm water when available; use hand sanitizer between hand washings.
* Avoid close contact with sick people. Close contact means getting within 6 feet of a sick person. If you must care for someone who is ill, minimize close contact.
* It's not known whether face masks protect against infection. If you use one, don't slack off on hand washing or avoiding close contact with sick people. Use the face mask properly and throw it away after use.
* Get your seasonal flu vaccine as soon as possible. It's safe, and it protects against the three seasonal flu bugs expected to circulate this fall and winter -- even though it won't protect against H1N1 swine flu.
The second part of the plan is to keep from spreading the swine flu virus:
* Stay home if you are sick.
* Observe flu etiquette. Don't cough or sneeze into your hands. Cough/sneeze into a tissue -- or, failing that, your elbow.
* If you can do so comfortably, wear a face mask if you come into contact with others.
* If you are an employer, do not penalize workers for staying home if sick or for caring for sick children.
* Make plans -- now -- for what you'd do if you or your children get sick this fall.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
What are common flu symptoms?
Whether a person has typical seasonal flu or swine flu, the symptoms seem to be quite similar. Flu symptoms are usually more severe than cold symptoms and come on quickly. Symptoms of swine flu and seasonal flu include sore throat, fever, headache, muscle aches and soreness, congestion, and cough. Swine flu in particular is also associated with vomiting and diarrhea.
Most flu symptoms gradually improve over two to five days, but it's not uncommon to feel run down for a week or more. A common complication of the flu is pneumonia, particularly in the young, elderly, or people with lung or heart problems. If you notice shortness of breath, you should let your doctor know. Another common sign of pneumonia is fever that comes back after having been gone for a day or two.
Just like cold viruses, flu viruses enter your body through the mucous membranes of your nose, eyes, or mouth. Every time you touch your hand to one of these areas, you could be infecting yourself with a virus, which makes it very important to keep your hands germ-free with frequent washing to prevent both flu and cold symptoms.
Most flu symptoms gradually improve over two to five days, but it's not uncommon to feel run down for a week or more. A common complication of the flu is pneumonia, particularly in the young, elderly, or people with lung or heart problems. If you notice shortness of breath, you should let your doctor know. Another common sign of pneumonia is fever that comes back after having been gone for a day or two.
Just like cold viruses, flu viruses enter your body through the mucous membranes of your nose, eyes, or mouth. Every time you touch your hand to one of these areas, you could be infecting yourself with a virus, which makes it very important to keep your hands germ-free with frequent washing to prevent both flu and cold symptoms.
How long do cold symptoms last?
Cold symptoms usually last for about a week. During the first three days that you have cold symptoms, you are contagious. This means you can pass the cold to others, so stay home and get some much-needed rest.
If cold symptoms do not seem to be improving after a week, you may have a bacterial infection, which means you may need antibiotics.
Sometimes you may mistake cold symptoms for allergic rhinitis (hay fever) or a sinus infection. If your cold symptoms begin quickly and are improving after a week, then it is usually a cold, not allergy. If your cold symptoms do not seem to be getting better after a week, check with your doctor to see if you have developed an allergy or sinusitis.
If cold symptoms do not seem to be improving after a week, you may have a bacterial infection, which means you may need antibiotics.
Sometimes you may mistake cold symptoms for allergic rhinitis (hay fever) or a sinus infection. If your cold symptoms begin quickly and are improving after a week, then it is usually a cold, not allergy. If your cold symptoms do not seem to be getting better after a week, check with your doctor to see if you have developed an allergy or sinusitis.
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