World Cancer Day: Early signs of cancer you should never ignore
Published on: February 04, 2026 12:47 IST
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Image Source : FreepikWorld Cancer Day is a reminder that while cancer can feel overwhelming, early detection still saves lives. Many cancers don’t arrive with dramatic symptoms. This isn’t about panic. It’s about paying attention to patterns your body keeps flagging, and knowing when “let’s wait and see” needs to become “let’s get this checked”.
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Image Source : Freepik
Losing weight without trying, especially more than 4–5 kilos over a few months, deserves attention. It can be linked to cancers of the stomach, pancreas, lungs or oesophagus. If your diet and activity haven’t changed but the scales keep dropping, your body may be signalling something deeper.
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Image Source : Freepik
We all feel tired. But cancer-related fatigue is different; it lingers, even after proper sleep, and interferes with daily life. If exhaustion feels constant, disproportionate, or new, it’s worth investigating rather than powering through on caffeine and optimism.
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Image Source : Freepik
Long-term constipation, diarrhoea, blood in stool, changes in stool shape, pain while urinating, or blood in urine are red flags, especially if they last more than a few weeks. These symptoms can be linked to colorectal, bladder or prostate cancers.
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Bleeding between periods, after menopause, during sex, or persistent nosebleeds shouldn’t be dismissed. Similarly, unusual nipple discharge or persistent vaginal discharge warrants a medical check. The body doesn’t leak signals without reason.
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Image Source : Freepik
A cough that lasts more than three weeks, hoarseness, chest pain, or difficulty swallowing could indicate cancers of the lung, throat or oesophagus, especially in smokers, but not limited to them.
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Image Source : Pexels
Pain that doesn’t go away, whether in the back, abdomen, bones or head, shouldn’t be normalised. Chronic, unexplained pain is one of the most commonly overlooked early cancer symptoms.