Doctors may use physical examination, ultrasound, other imaging, blood tests, or a biopsy, depending on the location and characteristics.
A biopsy involves examining a sample of tissue to determine what the cells look like under a microscope. When cancer is suspected, this can be an important part of establishing a diagnosis.
Do not repeatedly squeeze, puncture, or attempt to drain an unexplained lump at home.
3. Unexplained Bruising or Bleeding
Bruises develop when small blood vessels break and blood leaks into the surrounding tissue. They commonly occur after bumps, falls, sports injuries, or other minor trauma.
Some medications, including anticoagulants and certain antiplatelet drugs, can make bruising more likely. Age-related changes in the skin and blood vessels can also contribute.
However, repeated unexplained bruising, unusual bleeding, or bruises that appear alongside other symptoms may sometimes indicate a blood disorder or another underlying medical condition.
In certain cases, these symptoms can occur with blood cancers such as leukemia.
How can leukemia affect bruising?
Leukemia is a cancer involving blood-forming tissues, including the bone marrow. Depending on the type, it can interfere with the production of normal blood cells.
Platelets help the blood form clots to stop bleeding. When platelet counts become abnormally low, a person may develop easy bruising, prolonged bleeding, or small red-purple spots known as petechiae.
Petechiae are tiny spots caused by bleeding beneath the skin. They may appear on the legs, arms, or other areas and can resemble a rash.
Other possible symptoms of leukemia include fatigue, frequent infections, fever, pale skin, and unexplained weight loss.
These symptoms are not specific to leukemia. Many other conditions can cause them, and bruising alone is much more commonly explained by noncancerous causes.
When should unexplained bruising be investigated?
Arrange medical evaluation if you notice:
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Frequent bruises without a clear injury.
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Bruises that appear unusually large or numerous.
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Small red or purple spots that develop without an obvious cause.
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Frequent nosebleeds or bleeding gums.
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Bleeding that takes unusually long to stop.
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Bruising accompanied by persistent fatigue, fever, or recurrent infections.
Seek urgent care for severe or uncontrolled bleeding, blood in vomit, black or bloody stools, or a sudden severe headache while taking blood-thinning medication.
Do not stop prescribed anticoagulants on your own. If you develop unusual bleeding or bruising, contact the prescribing clinician for advice.
A clinician may recommend a complete blood count and other tests to investigate possible causes.
4. A Wound That Does Not Heal
The skin normally repairs itself after a cut, scrape, burn, or minor injury. The time required depends on the wound's size, location, blood supply, and the person's general health.
A wound that remains open, repeatedly bleeds, forms a crust and then reopens, or progressively changes may require medical assessment.
In some cases, a persistent skin lesion can be a sign of skin cancer.
Skin cancers that may resemble wounds
Basal cell carcinoma can appear as a shiny bump, a pink or reddish patch, or a sore that repeatedly crusts and bleeds.
Squamous cell carcinoma may present as a scaly or crusted lesion, a firm bump, or a nonhealing sore.
Melanoma can have several appearances, including a changing pigmented lesion. Not every melanoma is dark, and not every dark spot is melanoma.
These cancers may occur on sun-exposed areas such as the face, ears, scalp, neck, and hands, although they can develop elsewhere.
Why nonhealing sores matter
A persistent wound may also be caused by diabetes, poor circulation, infection, pressure injury, or other conditions that interfere with healing.
For this reason, it is important to identify the underlying cause rather than assuming that every nonhealing wound is cancer.
A sore that does not improve over several weeks, repeatedly bleeds, or changes in appearance should be assessed by a healthcare professional.
People with diabetes or circulation problems should seek advice early because even a seemingly minor wound can develop complications.
Protect the area from further injury, follow appropriate wound-care guidance, and avoid applying harsh chemicals or unverified remedies.
If a lesion is suspicious, a clinician may recommend a skin examination and, when indicated, a biopsy.
5. Unexplained Weight Loss
Losing weight without intentionally changing your diet or activity level can sometimes be an early sign of a medical problem.
Weight naturally fluctuates, and a small change over a short period may reflect hydration, appetite, or ordinary variation.
However, substantial or continuing unintentional weight loss deserves evaluation.
Cancer can contribute to weight loss through several mechanisms. Some tumors affect appetite, while others interfere with digestion or metabolism. In advanced disease, the body may develop a complex condition called cancer cachexia, involving loss of muscle and fat that cannot be explained by reduced food intake alone.
Weight loss can occur with several cancers, including cancers of the pancreas, stomach, esophagus, lung, and other organs.
But it can also result from thyroid disorders, diabetes, gastrointestinal disease, depression, chronic infections, medication effects, and other conditions.
How much weight loss is concerning?
A commonly used clinical threshold is unintentional loss of more than approximately 5% of body weight over six to twelve months.
For example, someone who weighs 160 pounds and unintentionally loses eight pounds has lost 5% of their original body weight.
This threshold is a useful guide, not a rule that must be reached before seeking medical advice. The speed of weight loss, accompanying symptoms, and the person's health history also matter.
Warning signs that deserve attention
Contact a healthcare professional if weight loss occurs alongside:
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Persistent loss of appetite.
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Difficulty swallowing.
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Ongoing abdominal discomfort.
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Changes in bowel habits.
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Persistent cough or shortness of breath.
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Unexplained fever or night sweats.
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Increasing fatigue.
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A new lump or other persistent symptom.