12. Changes in the Skin or a Wound That Will Not Heal
The skin often provides visible clues that something has changed. Most rashes, spots, sores, and moles are harmless, but a new growth or a persistent lesion should be assessed if it behaves differently from the surrounding skin.
Warning changes include a mole that grows or changes shape, an irregular border, multiple colors within one lesion, or a spot that repeatedly bleeds or crusts. A sore that does not heal as expected, particularly one that continues to enlarge, also deserves attention.
Skin cancers do not always appear as dramatic dark moles. Some may look like a shiny bump, a scaly patch, a persistent sore, or a lesion that resembles an ordinary skin problem. Changes may be harder to notice on some skin tones, so it is important to pay attention to new or unusual areas across the body.
A wound that heals slowly can also be related to diabetes, poor circulation, infection, pressure, or other noncancerous conditions. The fact that a sore is persistent does not automatically mean cancer is present, but it should not be left indefinitely without assessment.
When monitoring a mole, look for changes in asymmetry, border, color, diameter, or evolution over time. Evolution—meaning a noticeable change—is particularly important. A lesion does not have to meet every familiar warning feature to deserve a medical opinion.
Protecting your skin from excessive ultraviolet exposure and following appropriate skin checks can help reduce risk or identify concerning changes. If a lesion is new, growing, bleeding, or not healing, arrange an examination rather than trying to remove or treat it yourself.
13. Unusual Bleeding, Bruising, or Blood in the Urine or Stool
Unexplained bleeding is a broad warning sign because it can arise from many different parts of the body. The location and pattern help determine what needs to be investigated.
Examples include blood in the urine, blood in the stool, coughing up blood, repeated nosebleeds without an obvious cause, or bruises that appear frequently without a clear injury. Some cancers, including certain blood cancers and cancers affecting the urinary or digestive systems, can cause bleeding or bruising. But medications, infections, clotting disorders, hemorrhoids, and other conditions can do so as well.
Women should also distinguish unexplained bleeding from expected menstrual bleeding. A period that suddenly becomes much heavier, bleeding between periods, or bleeding after menopause may require gynecologic evaluation.
Blood in the urine should not be dismissed simply because there is no pain. Likewise, a small amount of blood in the stool should not automatically be attributed to hemorrhoids, especially if it recurs or comes with bowel changes, weight loss, or fatigue.
When speaking with a clinician, describe where the blood appeared, its color, how much there was, how often it occurred, and whether you take medicines that affect bleeding. Do not stop prescribed blood-thinning medication on your own; instead, seek professional advice.
Heavy bleeding, vomiting blood, black tarry stools with weakness, fainting, or substantial blood loss can require urgent medical care. In these situations, do not wait to see whether the symptom disappears.
14. A New Lump, Swelling, or Enlarged Lymph Node
A lump can develop almost anywhere in the body. Many are harmless, including cysts, lipomas, inflamed glands, and swellings associated with infections. Nevertheless, a new lump or unexplained swelling should be checked when it persists, grows, feels unusually firm, or is accompanied by other symptoms.
Women often focus on lumps in the breast, but changes can also occur in the neck, armpit, abdomen, or groin. Lymph nodes may enlarge when the body fights an infection and then return to normal. A lump that remains enlarged without a clear explanation, however, deserves attention.
Some cancers cause swelling because abnormal cells accumulate in a tissue or lymph node. Others may create a mass that can be felt during an examination. The feel of a lump alone cannot reliably determine whether it is benign or malignant.
Avoid repeatedly squeezing, pressing, or trying to drain a lump at home. This can irritate the area and does not reveal what caused it. Instead, note when you first noticed it, whether it has changed in size, and whether it is painful or associated with fever, night sweats, or unexplained weight loss.
A clinician may examine the area and decide whether observation, imaging, blood tests, or a biopsy is appropriate. The choice depends on the location and characteristics of the lump, along with your medical history.
The safest approach is straightforward: if a lump is new, persistent, enlarging, or unexplained, arrange an assessment. It may be something entirely benign, but an examination is the way to find out.
Other Changes That Deserve Medical Attention
The 14 signs above are important, but they are not the only possible symptoms of cancer. Persistent difficulty swallowing, repeated indigestion that does not improve, mouth sores that fail to heal, unexplained night sweats, or ongoing pain may also require medical evaluation. The National Cancer Institute lists a range of possible cancer symptoms, including persistent fatigue, bowel changes, skin changes, unexplained bleeding, and difficulty eating.
The location of a symptom can offer clues, but no single symptom provides a reliable diagnosis. For example, indigestion may be related to reflux or medication, while persistent swallowing difficulty may have several possible causes. A mouth ulcer may result from an injury or infection, but one that does not heal should be examined.
A useful rule is to consider three questions:
-
Is this new? A change that is unusual for your body deserves more attention than a familiar symptom that has a clear, recurring pattern.
-
Is it persistent or getting worse? Symptoms that continue for weeks, repeatedly return, or progressively intensify should not be dismissed.
-
Are other symptoms appearing at the same time? For example, bloating combined with early fullness, pelvic pressure, and unexplained weight loss deserves more attention than a single brief episode of gas.
These questions are not a substitute for medical advice. They are a practical way to recognize when it may be time to arrange an appointment.