Women should pay attention to how long symptoms last and whether several symptoms appear together. Repeated abdominal discomfort combined with unexplained weight loss, appetite changes, or altered bowel habits deserves more attention than a single brief episode.
It is useful to record symptoms, their frequency, possible triggers, and any accompanying changes. This information can help a clinician decide whether blood tests, imaging, gastrointestinal investigations, or other assessments are appropriate.
When to seek medical advice: Consult a healthcare professional if bloating, abdominal pain, or bowel changes persist or repeatedly return without a clear explanation. Seek urgent care for severe abdominal pain, substantial bleeding, persistent vomiting, or black, tarry stools accompanied by weakness or dizziness.
Persistent symptoms do not necessarily indicate cancer, but identifying their cause is important.
Chapter 4: Skin Changes, Unusual Moles, and Dark Lines on the Nails
Changes in the skin can sometimes provide important clues about health. While most moles, freckles, and skin marks are harmless, certain changes deserve professional assessment.
Melanoma, a potentially serious form of skin cancer, can develop in an existing mole or appear as a new spot. One useful guide is the ABCDE rule:
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A — Asymmetry: One half of a mole looks different from the other.
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B — Border: The edges are irregular, blurred, or poorly defined.
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C — Color: The spot contains several colors or develops an unusual color.
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D — Diameter: The lesion is often larger than 6 millimeters, although melanomas can be smaller.
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E — Evolving: The mole changes in size, shape, color, elevation, or symptoms over time.
A spot that repeatedly bleeds, develops a persistent sore, or does not heal should also be assessed. Skin cancer can occur in people of any skin tone, and lesions may appear on areas that receive relatively little sunlight.
The image accompanying this topic also shows a dark line running lengthwise through a fingernail. Such a line is called longitudinal melanonychia and can have several causes, including normal pigmentation, medication effects, trauma, or benign changes in the nail.
In some cases, however, a dark longitudinal band can be a sign of nail melanoma, a rare type of melanoma involving the nail unit. Features that warrant assessment include a new or widening band, irregular pigmentation, pigment spreading onto the surrounding skin, or changes in the nail such as splitting or distortion.
Not every dark nail line is cancer, and appearance alone cannot establish a diagnosis. A clinician may examine the nail and determine whether specialist assessment or a biopsy is necessary.
Persistent skin rashes, unexplained lumps, or sores that fail to heal should likewise not be ignored simply because they are painless.