When several symptoms occur together, become more severe, or continue without explanation, seek professional advice rather than trying to diagnose yourself.
Chapter 4: Two Additional Warning Signs and Symptoms That May Appear When Cancer Spreads
Some of the most concerning changes associated with cancer involve the skin, unexplained bleeding, recurring fever, and symptoms affecting distant organs.
These signs deserve attention because they may indicate that the body is responding to an underlying disease.
However, it is essential to distinguish between symptoms associated with cancer generally and symptoms that may occur when cancer has spread.
Metastatic cancer does not always produce noticeable symptoms.
When symptoms develop, they depend largely on which organs are affected, how large the tumors become, and how much they interfere with normal tissue function.
The following two warning signs are important to recognize.
9. Unusual skin changes, wounds that do not heal, or changes in existing moles
The skin is the body's largest organ, and certain changes can provide important clues about health.
One particularly important warning sign is a new or changing mole.
People should pay attention to moles that change in:
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Size.
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Shape.
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Color.
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Surface appearance.
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Border definition.
A mole that becomes irregular, develops multiple colors, begins bleeding, or changes noticeably should be examined by a healthcare professional.
These changes can sometimes be associated with melanoma, a potentially serious form of skin cancer.
Dermatologists commonly use the ABCDE approach when assessing suspicious moles:
A – Asymmetry: One half of the mole looks different from the other.
B – Border: The edges are irregular, uneven, or poorly defined.
C – Color: The mole contains several different colors or develops unusual pigmentation.
D – Diameter: The spot is larger than approximately 6 millimeters, although melanomas can also be smaller.
E – Evolving: The mole changes in size, shape, color, or appearance over time.
Another warning sign is a wound or sore that does not heal.
A persistent skin lesion may appear crusted, scaly, raised, or repeatedly bleed.
Some skin cancers develop in areas exposed to sunlight, including the face, ears, neck, arms, and hands.
However, skin cancer can also develop in areas that receive little direct sunlight.
A persistent sore should therefore be assessed rather than repeatedly covered with creams without understanding its cause.
Can skin changes indicate that cancer has spread?
Sometimes, cancer that originated in another organ can spread to the skin.
This is known as cutaneous metastasis.
Depending on the original cancer, metastatic skin lesions may appear as firm lumps, raised nodules, or unusual areas of discoloration.
However, most skin lumps and changing spots are not metastatic cancer.
Infections, benign growths, cysts, and inflammatory conditions can produce similar appearances.
A dermatologist may examine the area and recommend a biopsy if necessary.
10. Unexplained fever, night sweats, or unusual bleeding
Another group of symptoms that deserves attention includes recurring fever, excessive night sweats, and unexplained bleeding or bruising.
These symptoms can sometimes occur in people with cancer, particularly certain blood cancers and lymphomas.
However, they are also common in many other medical conditions.
Unexplained fever
Fever is usually a response to infection.
The immune system raises body temperature as part of its response to invading microorganisms.
However, some cancers can also produce persistent or recurring fever.
This may happen because cancer cells release substances that influence inflammation or because the disease affects immune function.
People with certain blood cancers may experience repeated fever without an obvious infection.
Nevertheless, infections remain a much more common explanation for fever.
A fever that persists, repeatedly returns, or occurs alongside unexplained weight loss and night sweats should be evaluated.
People receiving chemotherapy or other treatments that weaken the immune system need particular caution.
A fever during cancer treatment can represent a medical emergency because of the risk of serious infection.
Night sweats
Waking up with damp clothing or wet bedsheets can happen for many reasons.
Warm sleeping environments, menopause, certain medications, infections, and hormonal changes can all contribute.
The concern is greater when night sweats are severe, recurrent, and accompanied by other unexplained symptoms.
Certain lymphomas are associated with what doctors call B symptoms.
These include unexplained fever, drenching night sweats, and significant unintended weight loss.
Not everyone with lymphoma experiences these symptoms.
And experiencing night sweats does not mean someone has lymphoma.
Persistent or unexplained symptoms should be discussed with a healthcare professional.
Unusual bleeding and bruising
Unexpected bleeding can also provide important medical clues.
Examples include:
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Blood in the urine.
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Blood in the stool.
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Coughing up blood.
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Vomiting blood.
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Recurrent nosebleeds without an obvious explanation.
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Unusual vaginal bleeding.
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Bruising that appears without a clear injury.
Certain cancers can interfere with blood production or damage tissues and blood vessels.
Leukemia, for example, can affect the bone marrow's ability to produce normal blood cells.
This may lead to low platelet counts, making bruising and bleeding more likely.
Some cancers of the digestive or urinary systems can also cause bleeding from affected tissues.
However, medications such as anticoagulants, infections, nutritional deficiencies, and blood disorders can produce similar symptoms.
Unexplained bleeding should never be dismissed simply because a person feels otherwise healthy.
What symptoms may appear when cancer spreads to distant organs?
The National Cancer Institute explains that metastatic cancer may spread through the bloodstream or lymphatic system.
The most common distant sites include the bones, liver, and lungs, although different cancers have different patterns of spread.
NCI+1
The symptoms depend on the affected organ.
When cancer spreads to the bones
Possible symptoms include:
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Persistent pain in a specific bone.
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Pain that becomes worse over time.
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Fractures following relatively minor injuries.
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Reduced mobility.
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Weakness when the spine is affected.
Spinal metastases can sometimes compress the spinal cord or nerves.
New severe back pain accompanied by leg weakness, numbness, or loss of bladder or bowel control requires emergency assessment.
When cancer spreads to the liver
Possible symptoms include:
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Yellowing of the skin or eyes.
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Abdominal swelling.
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Pain or discomfort in the upper right abdomen.
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Reduced appetite.
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Nausea.
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Unexplained weight loss.
These symptoms can also occur with hepatitis, gallbladder disease, and other liver conditions.
When cancer spreads to the lungs
Possible symptoms include:
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Persistent cough.
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Shortness of breath.
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Chest discomfort.
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Coughing up blood.
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Recurrent respiratory symptoms.
Some patients with lung metastases have no noticeable symptoms, particularly when the affected areas are small.
When cancer spreads to the brain
Possible symptoms include:
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Persistent or worsening headaches.
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Seizures.
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Changes in vision.
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Dizziness or balance difficulties.
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Confusion.
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Weakness affecting one side of the body.
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Changes in behavior or concentration.
A sudden seizure, new weakness on one side of the body, or sudden confusion requires emergency medical evaluation.
The most important point is that these symptoms are not proof of metastatic disease.
They are possible manifestations that require medical assessment, particularly in people with an existing cancer diagnosis.
Chapter 5: What Should You Do If You Notice These Warning Signs? How Doctors Detect Cancer Early
Recognizing possible warning signs is important, but knowing what to do next is even more valuable.
Many people delay medical appointments because they are afraid of receiving bad news.
Others assume that unusual symptoms are simply part of getting older.
Some may try home remedies, change their diets, or take supplements while waiting for the discomfort to disappear.
Unfortunately, delaying an appropriate medical examination can allow certain conditions to progress without being diagnosed.
The best approach is neither panic nor avoidance.
It is to understand which changes deserve attention and seek professional advice when necessary.